One distraught juror asked Thomas J. Tedeschi if she could address Lee. Tedeschi said she could speak to Lee’s attorneys, Bryan Drew and TJ Parrish.

Tedeschi thanked jurors for their service before dismissing them.

After a mistrial in the case last month, and the hours of deliberation after the trial that started March 10, Andrews’ family and friends were relieved to hear the verdict.

“A young girl is gone. She was 23 years old and the jury knew they had to answer to her, to God, for this. I’m glad they made the right decision. I believe he is guilty,” Andrews’ sister-in-law, Kim Davis, said. “We are very overjoyed. We are so happy justice has been served. Nobody knows what we went through and it’s been hard but justice has been served. God has blessed us. The family is so thankful.”

Owens declined to comment after the verdict was read but Drew said an appeal is likely.

“I’m assuming, based on the things that happened in this trial, it won’t end here. It will end up in the appellate court,” he said.

Drew said the length of deliberations, a note from the jury saying they were deadlocked late Wednesday, as well as the scene in the courtroom as the verdict was read, raised questions.