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Jury to decide if convicted killer will be executed

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Jurors will be back in court Wednesday to decide if convicted killer Justin Hurd should be executed.

Hurd's attorneys told the judge that they will call several witnesses during the penalty phase of the trial, even an expert witness, hoping to save their client's life.

Earlier this week, the jury was unanimous -- they found Hurd guilty of murdering Kevin Young, Kinshasa Wagstaff and Jasmine Hines in 2008.
 
He was also found guilty of two counts of kidnapping and one count of arson, for setting the victims' home on fire.

Prosecutors said Hurd was an enforcer for a drug cartel and that he was the mastermind behind all three murders six years ago.

A legal analyst told Channel 9 that a decision likely won't happen Wednesday.

"The penalty phase could last for a while, depending on the evidence the attorneys have to put on -- and deliberations," said Mark Foster.

North Carolina has not executed anyone since 2006. The state is one of several with "de facto moratoriums" on the death penalty while state courts handle lawsuits mainly dealing with execution drugs.