After deliberating for less than three hours, an El Paso jury found Brian Engleton guilty of murder. 

Engleton was charged with stabbing his estranged wife to death, outside her northeast El Paso beauty salon.

Deidre Engleton died from more than 30 stab wounds to her chest and neck area at William Beaumont Army Medical Center on June 16, 2011. Medical examiner Dr. Jaun Contain said her jugular vein was severed.

Judge Maria Salas Mendoza read the verdict Wednesday in front of a packed courtroom filled with friends and family of Deidre and many who worked on the case.

"We, the jury, find the defendant, Brian Anthony Engleton, guilty of murder," Mendoza read.

It was a verdict friends and family of Deidre's had waited for and expected.

Friends said there was always trouble in the couple's 18 year marriage. 

"The abuse had been there all the time," said friend of 20 years, Pat Smith. Smith has been at every day of the trial.

Court records showed that Deidre had filed and been granted a restraining order against Brian in May 2011. Two weeks before her death she had filed for divorce. Brian admitted to police that he put GPS trackers on her phone and car.

"Those that were close to her knew she was going through a lot. But people can't make you do things. You have to make up your mind and decide to do it on your own. Finally she decided she was ready to let go of the marriage and she went for the divorce and everything," said Smith.

That was the motivation, prosecutors said, for her murder and friends agree.

"I think it frightened him that he was going to be without money, without a job, without a place to stay, no money, no family, no friends. I felt like maybe he murdered her because his life had fallen apart," said Smith.

Smith said it was Deidre who held the home together and Brian had a lot to lose in a divorce. Deidre owned her own salon and supported Brian.

"Everyone knows that she was the breadwinner, she was a strong person as far as taking care of the home as far as the bills and everything. She did her part as both the man and the woman in the relationship," said Smith.

A manhunt for Brian began immediately after the early-morning slaying. Law enforcement officials found Brian a day later at a hotel near the crime scene. 

The defense argued that it was Deidre's military boyfriend, whom she was having an affair with, who killed her. However, there was never any evidence to prove that. 

The prosecution used eyewitnesses and a confession Brian made to the media after his arrest as part of their case.

Friend Vickie Wyche was also Deidre's client.

"I had to be here today, because I felt justice should be served," said Wyche.

But it wasn't an easy trial to sit through. Graphic photos of Deidre's body after her slaying and autopsy were projected on a large screen in the courtroom

"It was very hard, when I saw those stab wounds. I just dropped my head and I cried. My heart went out for her," said Smith.

Smith said there isn't much she would like to say to Brian. "I'm sorry this happened, I'm sorry he didn't love her enough to let go of her," she said.

Friends said it didn't have to come to this, they could have just gone through with the divorce and moved on.

"It's just sad because now their daughter is without both a mother and a father," said Smith. "He could have let her go and he would be free to raise his daughter." 

Chillingly, Smith said her good friend predicted her own death.

"She knew because he was violent all the time, he was abusive during the marriage and she was afraid of him," said Smith.

Friends believe she is now at peace and is finally free, while Brian will spend the next five to 99 years in prison,.

"He really messed up a whole lot of people's lives," said Wyche.

No amount of prison time for Brian will bring Deidre back. Friends said Deidre would go out of her way for anyone to help. She volunteered as an usher at her church and was very giving.

Friends also miss the gift she had to make anyone look "just fabulous, she would say," said Wyche. "A whole lot of us loved her."

During closing arguments, prosecutors used Brian's own words against him.

"He told police, 'It wasn't necessary,'" said prosecutor Jennifer Vandenbosh. "It wasn't necessary. It wasn't." 

As she said that, she laid out photos of Deidre. 

"I feel that justice has been served so now the family can heal and move on," said Smith. "He stabbed her over 32 times, he did not think about her daughter, her mother, the family or any of that."

The jury heard from several character witnesses during the beginning of the sentencing hearing Wednesday afternoon, including Deidre's oldest daughter, Brian's stepdaughter.

Jurors learned Brian had engaged in several affairs of his own throughout the nearly two-decade marriage.

Friends said there is a lesson in Deidre's tragic story for couples in abusive relationships.

"There is no excuse for something like this to happen, for what he did. If you can't love them anymore, just leave," said Wyche.

Smith said she wished Deidre had been able to seek help sooner.

The sentencing phase of the trial continues Thursday morning.