ATLANTA (AP) Testimony has ended in the penalty phase of the trial of an Atlanta man who escaped during his rape trial and went on a shooting spree that left four people dead.

Closing arguments are scheduled to begin Monday for Brian Nichols, who was convicted of killing a judge, a court reporter, a sheriff's deputy and a federal agent in the violence that began in downtown Atlanta.

The defense rested after calling on religious leaders to testify. Donnie Moore, who was Nichols' former pastor, told the jury that Nichols' life was still worth saving if he commits to change.

A jury found Nichols guilty on Nov. 7 of the shooting spree. Nichols' defense team has since asked the jury to spare him and sentence him to life in prison.

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