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Cassidy Jury Sent Home, No Sentence Yet

By Teresa Masterson

| Friday, Nov 20, 2009 | Updated 4:30 PM EDT

John Costello / Inquirer

John Lewis, the alleged killer of a Philadelphia Police officer Cassidy (inset), when he was escorted out of the the Miami Police Dept during his arrest.

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Philly's top cop, Commissioner Charles Ramsey, was pleased to see John Lewis convicted of first-degree murder.

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The jury in charge of deciding whether or not convicted cop killer John Lewis will get the death penalty was sent home for the weekend early Friday afternoon.

The jury that convicted the 23-year-old of first degree murder Thursday will not testify on his own behalf for the sentencing process.

Lawyers for Lewis told the jury his age and other mitigating factors are reason to spare his life after they convicted him of the Halloween 2007 murder of Officer Chuck Cassidy.

Prosecutors say the evidence and Lewis' criminal history mean the death penalty is appropriate. Lewis will not testify on his own behalf.

Lewis shot the veteran officer when he interrupted an armed robbery at a Dunkin' Donuts.

Cassidy died the next day. Authorities captured Lewis six days after the shooting at a homeless shelter in Miami.