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Richard Kanka Testifies In Death Penatly Trial

By Newsradio 88 Staff

Father of Megan Kanka, Richard Kanka told jurors today that his 7-year-old daughter's daughter remains a source of daily pain for him, reports WCBS' Peter Haskell.

Megan Kanka was raped and strangled by Jesse Timmendequas, a jury determined.

Now a death penalty phase decides his fate -- live in prison for life, or die in the State of New Jersey under its death penalty law.

Kanka made his statement on the same day lawyers were expected to make their closing arguments were expected in the trial.

Given an opportunity to speak to the jury and the Kanka family, Timmendequas apologized for raping and murdering the little girl and asked the jury to let him live out the rest of his days in prison so that he could, ``someday understand how something like this could happen.''