Jury recommends death sentence for hiring hit man

CLAYTON, Mo. -- Jurors have recommended a death sentence for a man convicted of hiring a hit man to kill his former wife over overdue child support.

A day after convicting Kimber Edwards of first-degree murder, St. Louis County jurors late Friday decided the 38-year-old man should die for his role in the August 2000 slaying of Kimberly Cantrell, 35, in her apartment.

Circuit Judge Mark Seigel set sentencing for June 10.

During the trial that began Monday, prosecutors argued that Edwards hired Orthell Wilson to kill his ex-wife to prevent her from testifying against him in a case of criminal nonsupport of their daughter.

Charles Moreland, an Edwards attorney, countered that his client had been framed. Edwards, a St. Louis City Workhouse guard on medical leave when Cantrell was slain, was set up by former jail inmates or people he had to evict from his rental properties, Moreland said.

Moreland also said Edwards had no motive to kill Cantrell because Edwards already had worked out a deal to make up the child support in exchange for the nonsupport charge being dropped.

Wilson, 40, pleaded guilty April 4 in the killing and is serving a life sentence with parole. Wilson said he fatally shot Cantrell at Edwards' urging in exchange for a promised $3,500.

During the punishment phase Friday, prosecutor Doug Sidel called as witnesses Cantrell's brother and sister, who both described Cantrell as a loving mother to her daughter, now 15.

Witnesses testifying Friday on Edwards' behalf included his wife, daughter, mother, uncle, cousin and various friends and co-workers. In asking jurors to spare Edwards' life, they described Edwards as a good man who loved his family, took care of his three daughters and helped plan family reunions.