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Courthouse and what waited there. >> it appears to be in order. so i will read the verdict. we the jury in the above entitled action find the defendant, jane laut, guilty of the crime of first degree murder. >> guilty of first degree murder. a shock ran through the room. ron, who so believed in her innocence looked distraught. and jane comforted him. the woman who flat turned down six years now faces the possibility of life in prison. it was a victory for dave's family, yes, but not one to celebrate. our faith calls us to forgive and we do. we forgive her. >> but forget, n not the lauts. not t...

>> the officers had to lock down and call in a homicide team to investigate further. it was a brutal scene. >> ventura county's investigator mike palmeiri arrived, there was no sign of a prowler. but they did find dave laut. >> he had been shot multiple times. he was on the ground, face down, with very obvious gunshot wounds to his back and to the back of his head. >> jane was a mess. she told investigators she had no idea who would do this. >> is there anybody who would want to harm him at all? >> no. >> son michael, 10 at the time, slept through it all. and jane's brother took charge of him ...

Testimony, final arguments from both sides, defense attorney made an impassioned plea to the jury. >> why would jane laut do this? why would she do this? when you think about it, there's only one real reason. it's what anybody would do to protect their child. >> you do not have the right to kill your husband. >> while the prosecutor urged the jury to look past the emotion and focus on the evidence. >> the defense testimony is false. it is untruthful. it is unbelievable. it is a story made up to raise battered women in self defense claim. it is plan b because plan a doesn't work and it's a lie....

One time on her face. her arms, her legs. several places. >> this is a monster. he's just a monster. >> ron bamieh is jane's defense attorney. and according to him, dave laut is far from the hometown hero so many believed him to be. the real truth about dave laut, said bamieh, for nearly three decades, he subjected his wife to horrific abuse. >> like all abuse, it's power and control. we have verbal abuse, over a long period of time. emotional abuse. the way he treats her. we have physical abuse, that's everything from the punching to the kicking to the slapping to the hitting, throwing her do...

Temper at the woman he's married to, and abusing her, hitting her? >> no. >> never. >> no. >> no, said the lauts. no, said the police. besides, they said maybe jane had quite another motive for killing dave laut. a financial one. coming up, borrowed money -- >> thousands and thousands of dollars. >> and even more money if dave was dead. >> sometimes she would say things like, i'd be better off if dave wasn't around. >> when "dateline extra" continues. ♪ a complete multivitamin with key nutrients plus b vitamins for heart health. your one a day is showing.