Karla Porter, Md. woman, guilty of first-degree murder for hiring hitman to kill her husband
(CBS) TOWSON, Md. - A Baltimore County jury has convicted a woman of first-degree murder for hiring a hitman to kill her husband.
Karla Porter was also convicted of conspiracy to commit murder, three counts of solicitation to commit murder and the use of a handgun in commission of a crime on Tuesday in the shooting death of Ray Porter in 2010.
CBS Baltimore reports prosecutors say the 51-year-old woman enlisted family members to help her find a hitman to kill her husband.
Karla Porter plotted the killing, which took place at her husband's gas station, to make it look like he was killed during a robbery.
The man Porter hired, Walter Bishop Jr., is serving a life sentence. He was reportedly paid $400 to shoot the victim in the head.
Porter had testified that her husband had verbally, physically and psychologically abused her for years. Her lawyer said that Porter planned the slaying in self-defense.
According to CBS Baltimore, prosecutors responded to the self-defense claim by saying that hiring a hitman is the definition of premeditated murder.
Karla Porter faces a possible life sentence without parole. A sentencing date has not been set.
Five other co-conspirators are already serving prison sentences in their role in the murder, according to the CBS Baltimore.
