CLEVELAND -- Closing arguments are expected Thursday in the sentencing phase of the Terrance Hough trial.

During the sentencing phase, the city firefighter apologized Wednesday for killing three people over Fourth of July fireworks and told jurors considering his sentence that some might think only his execution would be a sufficient apology.

"Regardless of what happens, I will have to answer to the highest court of all. That apology may be my very soul," Hough, 36, of Cleveland, said in a prepared, unsworn statement that exempted him from cross-examination by prosecutors.

Hough, dressed in a dark jacket and striped tie and swallowing hard to maintain his strong voice, apologized to his family, the community, the fire department and victims and their families.

"What can I possibly say to help ease the pain? I can only try," Hough said in the statement read in front of the Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court jury that convicted him and also must decide whether to recommend the death sentence.

The final sentence will be up to Judge Shirley Strickland Saffold.

Hough was convicted of three counts of aggravated murder for the shooting deaths of next-door neighbor Jacob Feichtner and two of Feichtner's friends just after midnight last July 5.

Hough said in his three-minute statement that he came to better understand the pain of the victims and their families as he watched them during his trial.

"I could see the anguish and pain caused by my actions. I could hear it in your voices and by the pained, angry expressions and the fears," he said.

Hough said he had violated his oath of public service as a firefighter and appealed for people not to misjudge his firehouse colleagues.

"Please do not hold my actions against any of them," he said.

Earlier, with relatives of the defendant and victims watching in the court gallery, Hough's colleagues during his 12 years with the Cleveland fire department described him as hardworking and a bit shy but also intense, opinionated and at odds with a neighbor.

"He just said he didn't get along with him," testified fire Capt. Gerald Madden, who wasn't sure which neighbor was involved.

He described Hough as meticulous and very intense. "He wasn't one to shy away from anything," Madden testified. "He voiced his opinion when something bothered him."

Fire Lt. Robert D. Fenderson, who has known Hough for more than eight years, called Hough a "good guy" who was quiet and computer-oriented.

Asked about their relationship in view of Hough's crimes, Fenderson responded, "He's still my friend, if that's what you're asking."

Fire Lt. James Hogan said he had "nothing bad to say about" Hough and described him as dedicated to his job. If there was a fire, Hogan said, "I'd want Terry by my side."

Prosecutors pressed the firefighters under cross-examination on whether they were aware of Hough's gun collection and whether he had carried a weapon on duty in violation of departmental rules.

The witnesses said talk about guns and hunting was common in the firehouse environment where firefighters are on duty together 24 hours and off 48 hours. They testified they hadn't seen Hough with a weapon on duty.

Hough emerged from his house without warning early on July 5 and shot and killed Feichtner, 24, who was holding a party, Bruce Anderson, 30, of Parma, and Katherine Rosby, 26, of Lakewood.

The defense claimed that Hough had acted in a fit of temporary rage along a quiet street popular with Cleveland police officers and firefighters required to live in the city.

Hough's wife had called police several times between 2003 and 2005 complaining about loud noise, drugs, underage drinking and problems with neighbors, police reports show.