(RALEIGH) -- Jurors in the Jason Williford case are now waiting for closing arguments in the sentencing phase of the trial.  The jury found Williford guilty of first-degree murder on Friday in the brutal beating death of State School Board member Kathy Taft.

The jury listened to testimony all day Monday before the prosecution and defense rested on Tuesday morning in the sentencing hearing. Closing arguments are set for Wednesday morning, then the jury must decide whether Williford gets the death penalty or life in prison without parole.

On Monday Williford's father took the witness stand in an attempt to persuade jurors not to give his son the death penalty.  Keith Williford told jurors their family was close when Jason was young, but he said his son became increasingly difficult as he got older.

"In the 90's there, he just kept getting further and further away from us and more argumentative," said Keith Williford.  "He became more reclusive and withdrawn and just couldn't hug each other like we use to."

Jason Williford stared at the defense table during much of his trial, but he wiped away tears as his father talked on Monday.