BRIGHTON — A jury this afternoon deliberated about two hours before deciding William Rex Fowler is guilty of first-degree murder.

Fowler was accused of shooting to death his former business partner, Thomas Ciancio, on Dec. 30, 2009.

The defense rested its case this morning without calling a single witness.

Fowler did not testify in his own defense.

The prosecution said Fowler shot Ciancio to death and then turned the gun on himself because the software company he founded was failing.

Fowler will be sentenced in the same courtroom later this afternoon.