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Jury Mulls Death Penalty Arguments In Sisters' Slayings

PITTSBURGH (KDKA/AP) - A jury must determine whether a Pittsburgh man deserves the death penalty or life in prison for killing his next-door neighbors, two sisters of an Iowa state lawmaker, while stealing a bank card from them in February 2014.

The same jury convicted 45-year-old Allen Wade earlier this week of first-degree murder and other charges in the deaths of Sarah and Susan Wolfe.

The jury heard closing arguments in the penalty phase of Wade's murder trial today. Then, they went into deliberations for much of the afternoon.

On Tuesday, the jury heard opening statements and testimony from the victims' family members.

Susan Wolfe, 44, was a teacher's aide, her sister, Sarah, 38, was a psychiatrist. Their bodies were found in the basement of their East Liberty home.

The women were sisters of Democratic Iowa state Rep. Mary Wolfe when Wade shot them, separately, as they returned from work that night. Allegheny County prosecutors say he used the card to withdraw $600 he needed for rent.

The jury must unanimously vote for the death penalty, otherwise Wade gets life in prison.

The jury did have two questions this afternoon. One of them was asking about the definition of "mitigating circumstances."

Around 4 p.m., they went home for the day and will back Thursday morning.

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