Death penalty hearing set for convicted soccer tournament shooters

A sentencing hearing is set for Dec. 1 for the two men convicted of killing two people at a soccer tournament at Eden Park in 2012.

After more than a month of testimony, a jury found 38-year-old Otis Phillips and 23-year-old Jeffrey Phillips, who are not related, guilty of first degree murder for the death of Herman Curry and manslaughter for the death of 16-year-old Alexander Kamara. The ruling was handed down on Friday. 

Prosecutors argued that the men were out for revenge when they shot and killed Curry at Eden Park on July 8, 2012. Curry, who was a soccer coach and had organized the event, was targeted because he had witnessed a murder allegedly committed by Otis Phillips in 2008.

Kamara, a soccer player, was killed in the crossfire.

The prosecution also claimed that the men were seeking revenge for the death of their friend, Kirk Williams, who had been gunned down earlier that morning after a graduation party turned violent.

Both Otis Phillips and Jeffrey Phillips attempted to flee the park after the shooting, but were captured by police a few hours later.

The death penalty hearing could last several weeks.