LAKE CHARLES, La. — Jurors in the trial of Robyn Little Davis and Carol Noland Saltzman found the women guilty of second-degree murder after deliberating three hours.
The American Press reports (http://bit.ly/qjfACs ) the women were convicted Thursday in the June 29, 2009, shooting death of Davis' husband, Brian.
Davis and Saltzman, who have been out on bond, were taken into custody following the 11-1 verdict. Second-degree murder carries a mandatory penalty of life in prison without parole.
State District Judge David Ritchie will sentence the women on June 22.
Before closing arguments began Thursday, the defendants moved to have the responsive verdicts removed from the verdict sheet.
Jurors normally have the option to convict a defendant on the original charge, or any number of lesser offenses, called responsive verdicts.
Prosecutor Rick Bryant said three factors -- extra-marital affairs, money and insurance policies -- could have been motives for murder.
Responsive verdicts for second-degree murder include manslaughter and negligent homicide.
Ritchie asked the defendants if they understand that jurors sometimes convict defendants on a lesser offense, which could carry a shorter sentence. Manslaughter carries a maximum of 40 years in prison, and negligent homicide carries a maximum of five years in prison.
Both defendants told Ritchie that they wanted the lesser offenses removed from the verdict sheet.
Prosecutor Rick Bryant said that even though the case was circumstantial, the evidence clearly showed that Davis and Saltzman are responsible for murdering Davis' husband, Brian on June 29, 2009.
Bryant said that while the amount of evidence presented to jurors in the case was "overwhelming", each fact was a piece of the puzzle.
He said three factors -- Brian Davis' extra-marital affairs, money and insurance policies -- could have been motives for murder.
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Information from: American Press, http://www.americanpress.com