COVINGTON — A 12-member jury unanimously approved the death penalty Wednesday night for Ronald Scott Pryor, 35, of Independence, for his role as a hired hit man in the murder of Delta Air Lines pilot Stephen Craven.

        After about seven hours of deliberation, the jury reached its unanimous decision in the penalty phase of the trial.

Ronald Pryor looks toward spectators during a break in his trial Wednesday.

        When the jury's decision was read, Mr. Craven's brother, Bill Craven of Atlanta, who is raising the pilot's two children, raised his clenched fists in victory and hugged his parents.

        Mr. Pryor lowered his head after the decision was read and his two defense attorneys comforted him.

        Mr. Pryor was found guilty on a murder charge in connection with the July 2000 killing.

        The jury could have set the penalty as low as 20 years in prison.

        The formal sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 5 before Kenton County Circuit Judge Patricia M. Summe. She has the authority to adjust the sentence to something less than death.

        The same jurors found Mr. Pryor guilty of murder after less than two hours of deliberation on Friday.

        Prosecutor Luke Morgan of Frankfort presented a case which included Mr. Pryor's videotaped confession and testimony from Rusty McIntire, 33, of Erlanger.

        Mr. Morgan said Mr. Pryor was recruited to kill the pilot by Mr. Craven's wife, Adele, and her lover Mr. McIntire. The 38-year-old Mr. Craven was found dead in the basement of his Edgewood home in July 2000. He had been beaten and shot to death.

        While pointing to Mr. Pryor and holding a crowbar similar to the one used in Mr. Craven's killing, Mr. Morgan said: “This man deserves the death penalty. I'll say that as many times as it takes — as many times as this man hit Mr. Craven with a crowbar similar to this one.”

        Mr. Pryor's defense attorneys were not available for comment after the jury's decision was announced.

        Mr. McIntire agreed to testify against Mr. Pryor in exchange for life in prison without the possibility of parole for 25 years. Mrs. Craven's trial is scheduled to begin on Oct. 29.

        Defense Attorney Tom Griffiths of Maysville never denied his client's guilt during the trial. He tried to show that Mr. Pryor did not plan the murder and was a “slow learner” who was manipulated.

        “The evidence shows Ron is not the worst of the worst by any stretch of the imagination,” said Mr. Pryor's other defense attorney, Rebecca Lytle of Frankfort.

        Dr. Peggy Pack, a psychologist who testified on Mr. Pryor's behalf, said he has an IQ of 78 and functions at a level of an 11 1/2-year-old boy. She said he reads at a fourth-grade level, adding that he is not assertive and likely to be a “follower.”

        But Mr. Morgan said another psychologist showed Mr. Pryor had a higher IQ of 86. Mr. Pryor showed no signs of mental retardation and knows right from wrong, the prosecutor said.

        Mr. Craven's older brother, Bill, said the family had been advised by lawyers not to speak to journalists. There is concern any statements could taint the jury pool for Mrs. Craven's case.

        Someone from the Craven family has been present at every day of the trial, which started with jury selection on April 22.

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