Man may return to death row

A Bristol Township man, again convicted of first-degree murder in his retrial in the slashing of a Levittown artist two decades ago, could once more face the death penalty after jury deliberations scheduled to begin tomorrow.

Jurors took less than two hours Friday to convict Richard Laird, 44, of killing Anthony Milano on Dec. 14, 1987. Laird did not react as the verdict was read, but the victim's father and sister clasped hands and sighed with relief.

Prosecutors said Laird and Frank Chester, 37, of Tullytown, met the 26-year-old Milano at a bar, harassed him because he was gay, and forced him to drive them home. Milano's body, with the throat slashed, was found near his burning car.

In 2001, a federal judge overturned Laird's original first-degree conviction and death sentence, saying evidence of childhood sexual abuse, head injuries and alcoholism should have been presented. The judge let stand Laird's conviction for second-degree murder, which carries a sentence of life in prison.

Defense attorney John Kerrigan acknowledged the crime's brutality, but argued that his client was so drunk that a first-degree conviction was inappropriate. Prosecutors countered with witnesses who said Laird had not appeared that drunk and described him disposing of the murder weapon.

Prosecutor Michelle Henry said Laird and Chester had seen the victim as "easy prey."

"He was smaller. He was quiet. He was different," she said. "They saw him, and they were going to play."

Jurors in the penalty phase will have the option of sentencing Laird to life in prison with no chance of parole or sending him back to death row.

"I don't want him to die," Laird's niece, Nicole Knox, said after the verdict. "He's sorry for what he did; I know he is."

Chester also has been sentenced to death, and is also appealing his conviction.