A Hamilton County jury on Thursday said Patrick Leonard should die for murdering his girlfriend, Dawn Flick, last year.

        Common Pleas Judge Mark Schweikert will sentence Mr. Leonard, 31, of New Burlington, on June 28. He is not obligated to follow the jury's death penalty recommendation.

        Relatives of Ms. Flick were pleased with the jury's decision.

Leonard

        “We've waited for this since July, and it's wonderful to know that we don't have to worry or see him again,” said Kelly Fenech, Ms. Flick's sister.

        Mr. Leonard killed Ms. Flick and shot her friend, Ryan Gries, when he came to her rescue during the early hours of July 29.

        When Mr. Gries and another man arrived at Ms. Flick's home, answering a call for help, Mr. Leonard fired three shots into her head, then fired a fourth shot through the front door. A bullet struck Mr. Gries and lodged in his back.

        Defense attorneys contended that Mr. Leonard had no intention of killing his girlfriend and that no rape took place.

        The day after Ms. Flick's death, her father, Les, owner of the Home Like Inn, killed himself.

        On Thursday, Mr. Flick's wife, Linda, wept openly.

        “That terrible, terrible animal has got to pay for what he did to my daughter ...

        “He was the reason I lost both of them,” she said. “I will never have closure. But this is one step in that direction.”

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