After nearly three weeks of testimony, and eight hours of deliberation by a nine-woman, three-man jury, David Woods was found guilty of first-degree murder in the death of wife Dorothy.

Emotions were high in Saskatoon Court of Queen’s Bench after word spread that the jury reached its verdict Thursday shortly before 8 p.m. Members of Dorothy’s family returned to the courthouse, emotion raw on their faces and some in tears before the verdict was even announced. David Woods, meanwhile, sat with his legs crossed, fingers laced on his knee, as the packed room waited for the judge.

As the jury entered the room, the members filed past David Woods without making eye contact. Around 8:15 p.m., in a quiet courtroom, the verdict - guilty of first-degree murder - was announced.

"I knew it," said Elizabeth Tawpisin, a friend of Dorothy's, to her family as they hugged in the courtroom.

David Woods remained stoic and quiet, the same as he had been throughout the trial. He was charged with killing Dorothy between Nov. 11, 2011, and Jan. 4, 2012, when her body was found near Blackstrap Lake south of Saskatoon. She had been strangled to death.

When asked by Chief Justice Martel Popescul after victim impact statements were read if he had anything to say, David Woods replied with a three-word answer: "No, my lord."

Family and friends of Dorothy Woods politely declined comment, saying they were too emotional to talk to the media on Thursday. A few small cheers could be heard coming from outside the courtroom in the hallway.

Members of Dorothy's family and her friends sobbed as the verdict was read and as Popescul spoke.

Judging one's fellow man is not easy, he said. "I thank you very, very much," said Popescul.

Moments after the verdict was announced, the mother of David Woods walked down the hallway with tears in her eyes. She had been in the courtroom for every day of testimony.

An emotional Lawrence Carter, a brother of Dorothy's, described his sister in a victim impact statement.

"Dorothy was always behind her camera taking thousands of photos" of her kids, he said.

"Missing you hurts so much. I love you Dot."

Carter described searching for Dorothy Woods as "torture," her loved ones hoping to find her but, from another point of view, hoping not to.

Carter said his brother-in-law "has no remorse and he never will."

Tawpisin addressed Woods directly in her victim impact statement.

"You didn't deserve her for your wife," said Tawpisin. "I for one never believed your lies."

A first-degree murder conviction carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison with no chance of parole for 25 years.

After the sentence was officially handed down, friends and family clapped and cheered as Woods was taken away.

Outside the court house following the proceedings, Crown prosecutor Michael Segu said he was pleased to have had an "extremely attentive" jury that took the job seriously and paid attention to a significant amount of evidence.

Shortly before reaching the first-degree murder verdict, the jurors asked Popescul for clarification on the definition of second-degree murder.