Calif. arsonist gets death penalty

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RIVERSIDE, Calif. (AP) -- A Southern California jury has decided that an arsonist should get the death penalty for murdering five federal firefighters who were overrun by a wildfire he ignited in 2006.

The verdict against Raymond Lee Oyler was announced Wednesday in Riverside County Superior Court.

Prosecutors said the 38-year-old deserved to die for the firefighters' painful deaths. The defense said in closing arguments that the deaths were not intentional and Oyler should get life in prison without possibility of parole.

Oyler was convicted of five counts of first-degree murder, 20 counts of arson and 17 counts of using an incendiary device.