Death penalty for Bay Area toll collector killer

The Contra Costa Times reports (http://bit.ly/10oSXjD ) that jurors deliberated for two days before determining that Nathan Burris should be put to death.

Before reaching their decision on Tuesday, the same jury had convicted the 49-year-old Burris earlier this month of first-degree murder and special circumstances.

Burris admitted to fatally shooting Richmond-San Rafael Bridge toll collector Deborah Ross and her friend, Ersie Everette III, at the bridge's toll plaza in 2009.

Prosecutors say Burris thought Ross and Everette, a bus driver with Golden Gate Transit, were romantically involved. Burris had previously been in a relationship with Ross.

Burris represented himself during his trial and told jurors that the slayings were justified.