BY MARIE McCAIN
The Cincinnati Enquirer
It took a Hamilton County jury 50 minutes Tuesday to find Gary Lee Hughbanks Jr. guilty of killing a Springfield Township couple 11 years ago.
Relatives of William and Juanita Leeman wept and hugged as a court clerk read the jury's verdict.
Mr. Hughbanks sat with his head bowed, hunched over the defense table, and kept his hands interlocked.
Later, as sheriff's deputies led the 31-year-old murderer away, he muttered: "I'm sorry" and "I deserve no mercy."
The verdict was hardly a surprise.
Throughout the two-day trial, Mr. Hughbanks' attorneys said their client was taking responsibility for his crimes and offered no defense.
However, because the case carries a potential death sentence, according to Ohio law Mr. Hughbanks could not plead guilty.
Jurors are scheduled to hear further argument Monday to determine whether Mr. Hughbanks deserves the death penalty.
The defense plans to present testimony from several of his family members, in addition to medical experts who will discuss Mr. Hughbanks' mental state.
Defense attorney Dale Schmidt said his client has been seeing a psychologist since age 14.
On Tuesday, Dr. Lee Lehman, the deputy coroner who performed the autopsies on Mr. and Mrs. Leeman, told jurors the couple died as a result of their stab wounds. He said Mr. Leeman was stabbed 17 times -- three of which were fatal wounds.
He said the throat of Mrs. Leeman, who also suffered multiple stab wounds, was slashed so violently he could not determine where the cut began or ended.
Dr. Lehman said the cuts were caused by a knife similar to the two introduced as evidence in the trial.
The Leemans were found dead May 13, 1987, the victims of a bungled burglary.
The couple arrived home shortly after 9 p.m. and found Mr. Hughbanks in their bedroom going through dresser drawers.
Mr. Leeman tried to fight Mr. Hughbanks but was killed in the bedroom. Mrs. Leeman tried to run for help, but before she got outside, Mr. Hughbanks caught her and slit her throat.
She was able to crawl 75 feet to the curb of her driveway where a passing police officer spotted her.
Mr. Hughbanks fled through the rear of the house.
Police had no suspects until 1997, when Mr. Hughbanks was implicated in the slayings by his father and brother. He was in Tucson, Ariz., and subsequently admitted killing the couple to investigators there.
