Pipe fitter convicted in rape, slaying of college coed
Jurors convicted a Nevada man Thursday of raping and strangling a college coed during a string of attacks that had the city of Reno on edge two years ago and now will decide whether to sentence him to death.
A Washoe County District Court jury found James Biela, 28, a pipe fitter from Sparks, guilty of all five counts tied to the murder of Brianna Denison, 19, and sexual assault of two other women.
The sentencing hearing was to continue this morning.
The sexual assaults began in the fall of 2007 around the University of Nevada, Reno campus just north of the downtown casino district and included Denison's strangulation in January 2008.
