Federal prosecutors this morning told a jury that an inmate convicted of gutting a cellmate in prison deserves to die for the crime.

William Sablan, 43, was found guilty of first-degree murder last week in the death of Joey Estrella. Sablan strangled Estrella, 33, in October of 1999 and cut his throat at least 60 times with a contraband plastic razor. Sablan then removed the victim’s organs.

Sablan bragged about killing Estrella and sat on the body as guards, waiting for backup from other officers, videotaped the scene.

Sablan’s cousin was also in the cell when Estrella was murdered.

If the federal jury agrees that Sablan deserves the death penalty, he would be the first person to be executed in Colorado since Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh in 1997.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Brenda Taylor said the prosecution will show that Sablan will continue to be dangerous if kept in prison. Several of Sablan’s violent actions in the past include throwing coffee at a prison guard and threatening to kill security personnel, Taylor said.

Sablan has made a "continuing succession of violent choices," she said.

Defense attorney Patrick Burke said Sablan has mental problems and was a good family man before he got into prison. The defense plans to have testimony from a woman Sablan rescued from drowning in the water and have Sablan’s siblings and children speak about him.

"He’s done some horrific things," Burke said. "But there is another side."