The penalty phase of the Harlow Cuadra [pictured] murder trial has started Friday morning.
Cuadra was convicted Thursday of murdering a rival in the gay pornography business in 2007.
Since it is a capital murder case the jury must now decide if Cuadra should get life in prison or be put to death.
Cuadra’s attorneys have brought family and friends of Cuadra’s to the stand in an attempt to paint a picture that the man convicted of first degree murder isn’t the man Harlow Cuadra really is.
Defense Attorneys spent the majority of the morning talking with Jose Cuadra, Harlow’s older brother.
Jose told jurors that he and Harlow had a tough childhood, that they never had any money or toys to play with as a child.
Jose Cuadra also broke down in tears several times, telling jurors he and his brother were molested by their mother’s boyfriend.
Cuadra also said he was shocked to learn later in the life that his younger brother was in the gay pornography industry.
The penalty phase is expected to last all day, with both the defense and prosecution bringing witnesses to the stand, hoping to sway the jury’s decision on a sentence.
Cuadra will either be sentenced to life in prison without parole or sentenced to death.
