Man Guilty Of Triple Murder

EUGENE, Ore. - Conan Wayne Hale, whose confession to a Roman Catholic priest was illegally tape-recorded by jailers, was convicted yesterday in the 1995 murder of three teenagers.

Jurors who convicted Hale will return Tuesday to determine if he should get the death penalty or life behind bars for the killings of Kristal Bendele, 15; Brandon Williams, 15; and Patrick Finley, 13.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals last year ruled that the recording was illegal and unconstitutional but refused to order its destruction. The tape was never used as evidence in the aggravated murder trial.

Church lawyers had argued for the destruction of the tape, saying its existence creates suspicion priests cannot administer sacraments in jail without being overheard.