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Prosecutors To Seek Death In 'Grim Sleeper' Trial

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Los Angeles County prosecutors say they will seek the death penalty against a man accused of the "Grim Sleeper" serial killings.

Deputy District Attorney Beth Silverman told a court Monday that her office will ask a jury for the state's harshest sentence if 58-year-old Lonnie Franklin Jr. is convicted.

Franklin has pleaded not guilty to 10 counts of murder and one count of attempted murder.

Most of the victims linked to the "Grim Sleeper" were found in alleyways within a few miles of Franklin's home a few miles south of downtown Los Angeles. Those victims were shot, strangled or both, usually after some kind of sexual contact. Several were prostitutes.

The killings got their name because of a long gap between some of the deaths.

(© Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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