PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla.Justice may soon be served in the tragic case of 15-year-old Khyler Edman, as a judge now weighs a jury’s recommendation of the death penalty for his killer, Ryan Cole.

The sentencing phase of the trial began Thursday in Port Charlotte, following Cole’s conviction for a 2019 home invasion that ended with the murder of Edman. The teen was killed while bravely shielding his 5-year-old sister from the attacker.

Edman and his sister were home alone on September 26, 2019, while their mother, Jessica English, was at work. Cole, now 33, broke into the family’s home and fatally stabbed Edman during the confrontation. English learned of the police presence in her neighborhood through a Facebook post and rushed home to a devastating scene.

The jury voted 10-2 in favor of the death penalty, citing the cruelty of the murder and the fact that it occurred during the commission of a burglary. Prosecutors emphasized the brutality of Cole’s actions, while the defense pointed to Cole’s troubled background and struggles with addiction.

Judge Lisa Porter is expected to issue a final sentencing decision on June 17.