NATION : Death Sought for Fla. Poisoner

BARTOW, Fla. — A jury today recommended the death penalty for a computer programmer convicted of killing his neighbor by poisoning her soft drinks.

The panel spent less than an hour deliberating whether to recommend life in prison or death in the electric chair for George James Trepal. Sentencing was scheduled for March 6.

Trepal, 42, was convicted Tuesday of first-degree murder, attempted murder and product tampering charges in the October, 1988, poisonings. Authorities alleged that he was fed up with his neighbors’ loud music and uncontrolled dogs, so he spiked seven bottles of Coca-Cola with thallium, a highly toxic heavy metal, and sneaked them into the kitchen next door.

Peggy Carr, 41, drank from the bottles and died. Four other members of her family, including her son, stepson and husband, were poisoned but survived.