A convicted rapist found guilty of sexually assaulting and murdering a 54-year-old mother along a suburban Atlanta bike trail was sentenced to deat.

A Paulding County jury ended a five-day penalty phase at Michael Ledford's trial with a unanimous recommendation that he should die for the July 2006 slaying of Jennifer Ewing of Sandy Springs.

Superior Court Judge James Osborne set Ledford's execution date between July 1 and July 8, but that is automatically stayed because Georgia law requires an appeal of death sentences.

Ewing's husband, James, said it was the ``right sentence.''

"It's been tough for our family,'' said Ewing, who stood with his three children as they struggled to hold back tears. "Michael Ledford has been held accountable for what he did."

GRISLY AMBUSH

Police said Ledford, 46, ambushed Ewing as she biked along the Silver Comet Trail, a former railroad bed from Smyrna to Alabama that has been paved for bikers and hikers.

Prosecutors say Ewing tried to fight off her attacker, but Ledford beat her to death and then dumped her naked body in bushes off the trail.

The jury took about 90 minutes to reach the guilty verdict Monday on charges of murder, aggravated battery, kidnapping and aggravated sodomy.

The panel began deliberations shortly after attorneys for both sides delivered their closing arguments in the penalty phase.

"Nobody's going to be safe. He's going to continue to prey on people," District Attorney Drew Lane told jurors. "Death is the only appropriate punishment."

Lane cited Ledford's criminal record, which included a 10-year prison term for rape and several other attacks on women.

Defense attorney Tom West acknowledged the crime was "horrible" but asked for mercy.

"Michael is not able to hold himself responsible," West said, citing childhood brain injuries, an abusive upbringing and a life of alcoholism.

"You can honor life by granting it to Michael," he said, arguing that life in prison would still protect society.