-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Looking directly at the man who murdered his 9-year-old daughter , Mark Lunsford told John Evander Couey , `` I hope you hear her cry as you try to sleep at night . '' `` You will never hurt another child again , '' Lunsford said in testimony Tuesday in a Florida court hearing where a judge will decide whether to give Couey the death penalty . Jessica Lunsford , seen in an undated family photo , was 9 when she was abducted and killed . She disappeared in 2005 from her home in Homosassa , Florida . His eyes fixed on Couey , Lunsford continued , `` For 29 months , my daughter has heard me cry and begged God to stop the pain in my heart . '' Addressing Florida Circuit Court Judge Ric Howard , Lunsford pleaded for Couey to die for his crime . Then he turned back to the man who took his daughter . Watch Lunsford 's emotional testimony '' `` I hope you see the tears at night when she asked you -LSB- if she could -RSB- go home . You will never hurt another child again . '' Lunsford spent much time talking about memories of Jesse Lunsford . `` I can remember when she was about 1 year old and would give me kisses and hugs and steal the raisins from my cereal , '' he said . `` From bumps to bruises , from Band-Aids to bicycles , she was a tomboy with her daddy and a very nice little lady for her grandmother . '' The hearing will continue Wednesday . Couey 's attorneys are trying to convince Howard that Couey is mentally incompetent and should be spared the death penalty . `` That 's a cop-out , '' Lunsford said Tuesday on Larry King Live . `` He is not retarded . '' The father said he wants Couey to die for his crime . King asked him if he would attend the execution by lethal injection . `` I 'd hold the syringe if they 'd let me , '' he answered . But a prosecution expert testified Tuesday that the convicted killer had an IQ of between 80 and 90 , about low average . `` My opinion is that he is not mentally retarded , '' said Dr. Greg Pritchard , a clinical psychologist . Couey was convicted in March on charges of kidnapping , raping and murdering Jessica . The jury voted 10-2 to recommend the death penalty . In Florida , the vote does not have to be unanimous to recommend the death penalty . The judge is expected to sentence Couey next month . Jessica Lunsford disappeared in February 2005 from her home in Homosassa . Her body was found three weeks later in a shallow grave outside a mobile home about 100 yards from where she lived . Couey , a convicted sex offender , was staying nearby in a trailer with his half-sister . Couey kidnapped the girl from her bedroom and later , in a taped confession , admitted that he buried the child alive . `` I went out there one night and dug a hole and put her in it . Buried her , '' he said . She was found wrapped in garbage bags , holding a stuffed toy dolphin , her hands bound with stereo wire . Jessica died from asphyxiation after being sexually assaulted , according to a medical examiner 's report . The judge ruled the confession was inadmissible in court because Couey had asked for a lawyer the day before he told police he committed the crime . Evidence at the trial included Jessica 's fingerprints in a closet in Couey 's trailer and DNA from Jessica 's blood and Couey 's semen on a mattress in his bedroom . Lunsford has led a push for stricter sex offender laws since his daughter 's death . Then-Gov . Jeb Bush signed the Jessica Lunsford Act into Florida law . The 2005 legislation calls for prison sentences of 25 years to life for sex offenses against children under age 12 , better registration of convicted sex offenders and a Global Positioning System notification mechanism to track down probation violators . Texas Gov. Rick Perry signed similar legislation Monday . E-mail to a friend