CLEVELAND, Ohio --

will face the death penalty in the slayings of 11 women whose bodies were found dead in his Imperial Avenue home.

A Cuyahoga County jury convicted the 51-year-old Cleveland man of multiple counts of aggravated murder and related offenses today in Common Pleas Court. Jurors deliberated for about 15 hours over three days before returning their decision.

The trial will now move into the mitigation phase, during which Sowell's lawyers will try to convince jurors that his life is worth sparing. The same jury will reconvene Aug. 1 to hear evidence in that phase. They can recommend a death sentence or life in prison with or without the chance for parole.

Judge Dick Ambrose will make the final decision on Sowell's punishment. He is not bound to the jury's recommendation but cannot impose a death sentence unless the jury recommends one.

Testimony in the trial - held in Judge Dick Ambrose's courtroom - lasted for three weeks. Prosecutors called 62 witnesses. The defense called none.

The jury of seven women and five men viewed hundreds of pieces of evidence.

Anthony Sowell found guilty 13 Gallery: Anthony Sowell found guilty

While they chose not to call Sowell as a witness or present evidence, the defense tried to paint the suspected serial killer as a sympathetic character and inspire reasonable doubt in the minds of jurors.

Sowell's lawyers said prosecutors presented no direct evidence -- no eyewitnesses to the killings, no fingerprints and no DNA -- linking Sowell to any of the victims.

Jurors rejected that argument and convicted Sowell.

Ambrose began reading the verdicts about 3 p.m. Sowell remained stoic as the judge began reading the forms. A deputy handcuffed him immediately after the first verdict came in.

Several relatives present in court cried as the verdicts were read. Donnita Carmichael hugged her grandmother, Barbara Carmichael. Tonia Carmichael was one of Sowell's victims.

"I'm glad justice has been done," said Audrey Webb, sister of victim Janice Webb. "I'm glad it's over and he is getting what he deserves."

Get the latest from Plain Dealer reporter Stan Donaldson at the courthouse on Twitter @pdsowelltrial.

More coverage:

• Complete index of trial coverage and background on the case

