UPDATED 3:55 p.m. JULY 2:

The father of Benjamin Spencer took the stand this afternoon to address the woman convicted of killing the 10-week-old baby in November 2010:

“We collectively as a family are stronger than you. My son was a better human being during his short life than you could ever hope to be in your miserable existence,” said Duane Spencer, the band director at Simon Middle School.

“Our trust for any human being has been shattered so much so that we had to overcome the untruth that we were inadequate parents and couldn’t tell the difference between the monster you were and the loving mom you pretended to be. We are stronger than that and we know the truth.”

“You will always have the satisfaction of knowing the truth of what you did and why you will rot in prison. We will never know … why such an innocent child had to suffer at the hands of a monster.”

UPDATED 3:36 p.m. JULY 2:

The jury finds Lyons guilty of capital murder. District Judge Bill Henry sentences Lyons to life in prison without the possibility of parole, the automatic sentence for capital murder cases in which the district attorney does not seek the death penalty.

Jurors given the option of leaving for portion of trial where victim’s family gets to address the defendant. One juror just got up and left but the others are staying put.

STAFF REPORT

After nearly 11 hours of deliberation over two days, a Hays County Jury has reached a verdict in the Kyle daycare baby death case.

Christina Lyons, 33, could face up to life in prison without the possibility of parole if convicted of capital murder. The jury could also opt for convict her on a lesser charge, injury to a child, which would carry a sentence of five to 99 years.

The defendant, attorneys for both sides and family and friends of the victim and the accused are pouring back into the courtroom. We will update the story when a verdict is announced.