The verdict, read in open court on Wednesday afternoon, was to recommend separate death sentences for each of Sowell's deceased victims.

After deliberating for a total of about seven hours, a jury recommended the death penalty for convicted serial killer Anthony Sowell.

The verdict, read in open court on Wednesday afternoon, was to recommend separate death sentences for each of Sowell's deceased victims.

The jury, which consists of seven women and five men, deliberated for three hours on Tuesday and four more on Wednesday. It resumed deliberations at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday and worked through lunch with no break.

Jurors had two options for its recommendation: the death penalty or life in prison without the possibility of parole. Judge Dick Ambrose will impose the final sentence. He does not have to follow the jury's recommendation, though it's quite likely that he would.

Ambrose did not immediately sentence Sowell after the jury's recommendation was delivered. The official sentencing will occur in court on Friday. Proceedings are scheduled to begin at 9 a.m.

Sowell, 51, was convicted of aggravated murder in the deaths of 11 women found in and around his Imperial Avenue home in June of 2009. He was also convicted on numerous other charges, including the attempted murder, assault, kidnapping and rape of three women who survived his attacks.

Sowell was acquitted of only one aggravated robbery charge.

Defense attorneys had argued that Sowell's mental state and abusive upbringing are reasons he should be spared from the death penalty and given life in prison.

Prosecutors attempted to prove that he is not mentally ill and that he should be executed.