SAN ANTONIO -- A Bexar County jury decided that a handyman should spend 30 years in prison for the slaying of a 67-year-old man.

Jurors deliberated for about four hours before returning a verdict in the punishment phase in the trial of Juan Arredondo, who was found guilty Tuesday of killing Clarence Jurrens in April 2004.

Defense attorneys claimed that the defendant killed Jurrens because the victim allegedly raped him at the home where Jurrens was baby-sitting some pets of the homeowners.

But during closing arguments, prosecutors told jurors that Arredondo showed no mercy during the killing.

"He bashed his head in," said Crystal Zimmerer, a prosecutor. "He broke both of his jaws and he almost ripped the ear off his head."

When police arrived at the home, they found the words "he repe me" written in blood on a mirror.

Arredondo told police he was at the home to install a ceiling fan, but trial evidence didn't support his claim.

Prosecutors argued the two men were having a sexual affair.

The defendant will be eligible for parole after he serves half of his sentence.