Stephen Lester found guilty

A woman ran out screaming, a juror was in tears and Lester himself sank in his seat and announced he was sorry.

Guilty of first degree murder and especially aggravated robbery, Thursday jurors heard the closing arguments before handing down their decision.

In closing arguments, the defender for accused murderer Stephen Lester told jurors over and over the woman who testified against him is a liar.

"She’s had two years to figure out how to get this just right, to come in and spin yet one more tale for you on the stand here," said defense attorney Dan Ripper.

Officials say Carmisha Lay was in a gang with Lester.

Her friend, and casual lover, was Edward Glenn, Jr., a known drug dealer who she knew carried a lot of cash.

Through Facebook messages and texts, prosecutors alleged she set Glenn up to be robbed by Lester after a night of drugs and sex January 10th, 2013..

Through a plea deal, she testified that Lester entered the room her and Glenn were in, robbed Glenn and then shot him.

And her sentence was reduced to 15 years for this testimony.

But defenders said Carmisha Lay was high on drugs and alcohol when she gave her initial statement after the incident.

Allegedly, Lester’s DNA was nowhere at the scene and his hands were free of gun shot residue while her hands weren’t even tested.

"The state usually uses the explanation that they can’t afford to test people, that they don’t have the resources," Ripper said. "And of course Mr. Pope used that in his closing argument to the jury that they didn’t send off a piece of evidence because the state simply can’t afford to test everything that needs to be tested."

News 12 will be there at his sentencing hearing on March 29th and will keep you updated.