The Jury Has Reached a Verdict: McNeill is Guilty of First-Degree Murder, Human Trafficking

The seven week trial ended Thursday afternoon with the jury panel of 12 convicting Mario McNeill of kidnapping, human trafficking and murder of 5-year-old Shaniya Davis in November 2009. They found him guilty on six of the seven charges.

Extra security entered the courtroom as they waited for jury panel to enter the courtroom.

Each juror has reached a verdict for each charge. Senior Resident Superior Court Judge Jim Ammons pulled them out of the envelope silently viewing them as the courtroom awaited.

The jury voted unanimously that Mario McNeill is guilty of first-degree murder, first-degree kidnapping, sexual servitude, sex offense with a child by an adult offender, indecent liberties with a child, human trafficking and not guilty of rape of a child by an adult offender.

Next week the jury will determine McNeill's sentence and whether he will get the death penalty or life in prison without parole. Read about North Carolina's death penalty here.

Check back with Fort Bragg Patch tomorrow for facts about the death penalty in North Carolina. Subscribe free to read stories in your email through our daily newsletter here.