'Heart-wrenching' testimony at sentencing hearing

A Montgomery County Court jury on Friday heard emotional testimony from relatives of a King of Prussia grandmother and infant who were murdered in 2012. But the 28-year-old man convicted in the killings had earlier asked the judge to skip the proceedings.

"I don't want this hearing," Ranghunandan Yandamuri quietly told Judge Steven T. O'Neill on Friday morning, before the witnesses took the stand. "I would rather take the death penalty."

Yandamuri, 28, a former information technology worker who immigrated from India on a work visa, did not explain his reasoning, and ultimately it was moot.

After consulting with his court-appointed attorney at the urging of O'Neill, Yandamuri agreed to be present for the hearing and allow it to move forward.

That permitted several witnesses to testify Friday, the most powerful being the relatives of the deceased, including the infant's father, Venkata Venna.

Yandamuri was convicted Thursday of stabbing to death Satayrathi Venna, 61, and suffocating her 10-month-old granddaughter, Saanvi Venna.

Venkata Venna, who saw the crime scene the night his mother was murdered in the family's King of Prussia apartment, said he was still haunted by the scene.

"Sometimes, I can't sleep," he told the jury, clutching a tissue in his right hand. "One way, I'm seeing my baby's life. Another part, I'm seeing my mother's crime scene."

At least three jurors were moved to tears by Venna's testimony, and sniffles could be heard throughout the large audience observing the case.

Yandamuri sat expressionless at the defense table, shielding his eyes with his hands and scribbling on a notepad.

Due to scheduling issues, Venna's testimony, along with that of his brother, Ram, closed Friday's proceedings.

"That wouldn't be how you would write the script as a defense attorney," said Henry S. Hilles, Yandamuri's attorney. "It was heart-wrenching."

One additional witness is set to be called to the stand Tuesday morning before closing arguments begin. The jury will then decide whether to sentence Yandamuri to death or life in prison.

Yandamuri's mother, Padmavathi, has already testified on her son's behalf. On Thursday, she tearfully asked the jury to spare him, in contrast to his own expressed desire.

But county prosecutor Kevin Steele, asked about Yandamuri's request to be executed, said: "He and I agree on that."

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