AMERICAN FORK, Utah - The jury has found Martin Bond guilty on all charges in connection with the 2009 murder of a retired BYU professor.
Martin Bond was accused of the murder of retired professor Kay Mortensen. Prosecutors said he and Benjamin Rettig forced their way into Mortensen’s home on November 19, 2009, stole guns, and killed Mortensen by slitting his throat.
The trial was scheduled to last six days, but lawyers wrapped up in just three with closing arguments happening Friday afternoon. The jury deliberated for hours, finally reaching their verdict at around 10 p.m.
Martin was found guilty on all counts; one count of aggravated murder, three counts of aggravated kidnapping and one count of aggravated burglary.
As part of a plea deal to avoid the death penalty, Bond will serve life in prison without the possibility of parole.
He is scheduled to be sentenced on March 5.
Rettig pleaded guilty in 2011 to his part in the crimes and is serving 25 years to life in prison.
As part of a plea deal, Rettig agreed to testify against Bond. That testimony was supposed to happen on Thursday, but when Rettig took the stand, he refused.
