For the first time in more than thirty years, a jury in New York has sentenced a man to death.

He's a former prison guard, Darrel Harris, who was convicted of murdering three people during a robbery at a social club.

The last execution in New York state took place in 1963.

After that, a ban on the death penalty remained in force until the current governor, George Pataki, ordered its re-instatement three years ago.

In reaching its verdict of death by lethal injection, the jury rejected an alternative of life imprisonment without parole.

There will be an automatic appeal in the case.