A jury convicted a 13-year-old boy of first-degree murder Friday, turning aside defense claims that a childhood of abuse should shield him from criminal responsibility for the fatal stabbing of a younger boy at a western Michigan playground.

The verdict in Kent County court came after a three-day trial and four hours of deliberations.

The boy, Jamarion Lawhorn, will be sentenced as a juvenile, then resentenced as an adult when he turns 21.

There was never a dispute that Lawhorn, who was 12 at the time, killed 9-year-old Michael Connor Verkerke last summer at a playground in Kentwood, near Grand Rapids.

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Verdict: A jury convicted 13-year-old Jamarion Lawhorn of first-degree murder Friday over the stabbing of 9-year-old Michael Connor Verkerke. Lawhorn is seen in court

Case: The boy, Jamarion Lawhorn, will be sentenced as a juvenile, then resentenced as an adult when he turns 21

Victim's family: Dani Verkerke (far left), the mother of slain Michael Connor Verkerke, is seen in court Friday

The jury had to determine whether years of abuse at home had wrecked Lawhorn's mental health and overwhelmed his decisions.

In his closing argument, prosecutor Kevin Bramble said the killing was planned for months and the boy knew what he did was wrong because he called 911.

During the call, which was played for the jury, the boy demands that police arrest him and give him the electric chair.

Bramble told jurors Thursday: 'He set out to kill someone and he did it. Take the emotion out of it.'

Defense attorney Charles Boekeloo said his client was under the influence of stolen prescription drugs at the time of the stabbing.

Choices: The jury had to determine whether years of abuse at home had wrecked Lawhorn's mental health and overwhelmed his decisions

There was never a dispute that Lawhorn (left), who was 12 at the time, killed 9-year-old Michael Connor Verkerke (right) last summer at a playground in Kentwood, near Grand Rapids

Psychologist Priya Roa said the boy was deeply troubled.

Roa testified: 'He said he thought he would hurt himself but that would hurt too much so maybe he should poke another kid so he would be arrested by police.

'He wanted to die, he wanted to end it all.'

His mother Anita Lawhorn and his stepfather Bernald Harrold earlier testified in the trial and said they spanked the boy with a belt, WOOD-TV reported.

The NBC affiliate wrote that 'Both said they stopped spanking him since a CPS investigation that followed allegations of physical abuse in 2013.'

WOOD-TV reported beer cans, mouse droppings, and flies were some of the things inside the house authorities came across.

Mother: Following the verdict Anita Lawhorn said 'I understand the severity of the case, but he's not an adult and I know he has to be punished for his actions and I do not believe he should get an adult sentence'

Together: Fox17 filmed what they said was Verkerke's family embracing Lawhorn

Anita Lawhorn told Fox17 following the verdict: 'He's charged as an adult but ya know at the end of the day he was still born March 14th, 2002. He's still a kid.

'I understand the severity of the case, but he's not an adult and I know he has to be punished for his actions and I do not believe he should get an adult sentence.'

Fox17 filmed what they said was Verkerke's family embracing Lawhorn.

Verkerke's father Michael told MLive.com: 'Prison is the answer.'