Byline: Daniel Tepfer
Oct. 9--BRIDGEPORT -- Testimony ended this morning in the death penalty hearing of Russell Peeler Jr.
Both the state and defense rested their cases after each side briefly presented rebuttal witnesses.
The jury will be hearing final arguments Wednesday morning.
The 12-member Superior Court jury must decide whether to give Peeler the death penalty for ordering the murders of Karen Clarke and her 8-year-old son, Leroy "B.J." Brown Jr.
The mother and son were shot to death in their Earl Avenue home on Jan. 7, 1999, days before the boy was to testify against Peeler for the 1998 murder of Clarke's fiance, Rudy Snead.
In 2000, Peeler ...