Troy Michael Kell, given the death penalty Wednesday for stabbing an inmate to death two years ago, is now the youngest inmate serving on Utah's death row.
Kell, 29, was convicted of aggravated murder last week in the death of fellow inmate Lonnie Blackmon.On Wednesday, a six-man, six-woman panel in the Gunnison trial handed down the death sentence for the brutal stabbing, which was captured on videotape and shown to jurors.
Kell looked down and said nothing as the verdict was read while his mother sobbed in the courtroom.
Two jury members who asked not to be identified told the Deseret News the deciding factors in handing down the sentence were the evidence and the fact that this was Kell's second murder.
"It was pure evidence," a female juror said. "Kell really did not give us a choice. Also, the fact that he was already serving two life terms, and that he had killed again, there was a good possibility that he would have done it again."
"For me, it was that this was his second murder and that he didn't learn from the first one," another female juror said.
The panel reached a death-sentence verdict in less than three hours Wednesday. Jurors convicted him of capital murder after about two hours of deliberation last week. Both jurors said it was sufficient time to reach both decisions.
"We watched the video three times; the evidence was incredibly strong for the state," one juror said. "I think both sides did the best job they could have."
"We went through the evidence time and time again," the other juror said. "I think we're all very, very careful of every little bit."
The sentence sends a strong mes-sage to criminals who may think they can get away with murder while in prison, the two jurors said.
"If we hadn't given him the death penalty, it would have given (Kell) more power because whether you have two or three or four life sentences, it doesn't matter."
Emotionally, jury members tried to keep some sense of composure through a trial that brought a lot of tears and anger, they said.
"I did a lot of praying and got support from my family. That's how I handle it," one of the women said.
"It was the hardest thing any of us have ever had to do. My tears were mostly out of anger, but I was mad at myself for getting upset, because (Kell) put us into that position, a position that no one should have to be in."
Assistant Attorney General Scott Reed said he was satisfied with the jury's verdict.
"Some crimes require the ultimate punishment and some defendants require the ultimate de-ter-rent," Reed said. "If the death penalty wasn't handed down in this case, then what case would it?"
Kell now becomes inmate No. 10 on Utah's death row. He will be officially sentenced Aug. 1.