AUSTIN (March 11, 2010)—Milton Gobert, 37, of Austin man has been sentenced to die for the 2003 stabbing death of the friend of a woman he had dated in an attack that the victim's young son witnessed.

Jurors in Austin deliberated for about three hours before returning the death sentence after convicting Gobert of capital murder last week in the stabbing death of Mel Cotton, 37.

Gobert claimed he acted in self-defense.

Cotton's now-11-year-old son, whom prosecutors say Gobert stabbed several times, testified that he saw his mother being attacked at their home.

Prosecutors say Gobert killed Cotton because she helped his ex-girlfriend move out of his apartment.

In a voice mail to his ex-girlfriend, Gobert said some of his things were taken during the move.