Judges consider Ohioan's sentence in pizza-delivery slaying

CAMBRIDGE, Ohio (AP) — A southeastern Ohio man who pleaded guilty to killing a pizza delivery driver will be sentenced by a three-judge panel after it hears more testimony.

Adam Burris, 32, of Cambridge has pleaded guilty to charges including aggravated murder and attempted rape in the potential death-penalty case. The Daily Jeffersonian newspaper and WILE-FM reports the defense has pushed for leniency as the panel heard testimony this week in the sentencing phase.

Burris was charged in the death of 26-year-old Kayla Thompson, who didn’t return from a delivery to his Cambridge home, about 80 miles east of Columbus, on Dec. 26, 2013. Authorities say Burris later led them to Thompson’s body at a state park in Muskingum County.

A judge earlier issued a gag order for attorneys in the case.