Guilty verdict in murder of NH coed "Lizzi" Marriott

DOVER, N.H. - A jury has found 31-year-old Seth Mazzaglia guilty of first-degree murder and other charges in the death of University of New Hampshire college student Elizabeth "Lizzi" Marriott. Her body has not been found.

The panel of seven women and five men, who began deliberations on Thursday, signaled they reached a verdict Friday at noon. It was read an hour later.

Mazzaglia, of Dover, was convicted of first-degree murder by strangulation and other felonies in the Oct. 9, 2012 death of the 19-year-old Marriott of Westborough, Mass.

Mazzaglia appeared emotionless as the verdict was read.

During the trial, Mazzaglia's former girlfriend, 20-year-old Kathryn McDonough testified for 10 days. She said that, after a strip poker game, Mazzaglia choked Marriott with a rope when she twice rejected his sexual advances. After leaving the room briefly, McDonough testified that she returned to see Mazzaglia raping Marriott's lifeless body.

Mazzaglia has said Marriott died during consensual rough sex. He did not testify during the trial.

During trial, prosecutors cast Mazzaglia as the master and manipulator in a sex life marked by bondage and sadomasochism.

Defense lawyers argued McDonough controlled Mazzaglia and their sex lives. The defense said McDonough killed Marriott during rough sex involving restraints, then blamed Mazzaglia when she got immunity from prosecutors on charges involving the college sophomore's death. She has pleaded guilty to hindering prosecution and other charges and is serving 1 1/2 to 3 years in prison.

Strafford County Superior Court Judge Steven Houran told jurors prior to deliberations to scrutinize McDonough's trial testimony with "care and caution" and consider whether it was motivated by self-interest, bias against Mazzaglia, or an interest in the outcome of the case.