Mitigating evidence will be presented beginning Monday in Jefferson County Common Pleas Court in the sentencing phase of a trial for a Du Bois man convicted of killing two people from Brooklyn, N.Y., in 2006.

Prosecutors who succeeded in persuading a jury to convict Jason "Spike" Clinger, 27, of first- and second-degree murder had been scheduled yesterday to present evidence that Mr. Clinger should be put to death. However, prosecutors asked Judge John Foradora to incorporate evidence already presented during Mr. Clinger's trial into the record to show aggravating circumstances warranting the death penalty.

After the defense presents mitigating evidence next week, the jury will be charged by Judge Foradora to determine Mr. Clinger's fate--death or life in prison. He has been convicted of killing Davon Markeys Jones, 22, and Dianikqua Arshell Johnson, 21, during a kidnapping and robbery.

Hunters found the victims in the woods of Pine Creek in November 2006. Prosecutors say the shootings were drug-related.

The jury reached a verdict late Thursday after about five hours of deliberation.