RAINS-- 40/29 NEWS. MORE BREAKING NEWS NOW, THE JURY HAS RETURNED WITH THE SENTENCE IN THE MURDER TRIAL OF STEVEN RICE. HE WAS CONVICTED OF KILLING 47-YEAR- OLD MARIO MILLER TODAY. 40/29'S ABNER SOSA IS LIVE WITH THE NEW INFORMATION. THE JURY SENTENCED 24-YEAR-OLD STEVEN RICE TO 30 YEARS IN PRISON FOR 1ST DEGREE MURDER - AND 6 YEARS FOR TAMPERING WITH EVIDENCE. HE WAS FOUND NOT GUILTY ON A CAPITAL MURDER CHARGE. RICE WAS CONVICTED FOR KILLING MARIO MILLER ON AUGUST OF 2020. IN COURT TODAY - THE PROSECUTION PRESENTED TEN EXHIBITS, INCLUDING AUTOPSY PHOTOS, DNA RESULTS, THE AUTOPSY REPORT, AND THE MURDER WEAPON. THE JUDGE SAID THAT THE CREDIBILITY OF THE WITNESSES AND THE EVIDENCE INTRODUCED BY THE STATE WASN'T REALLY CHALLENGED BY THE DEFENSE. WITNESSES INCLUDING KEY-SHAYLA HILL - WHO WAS INVOLVED IN THE MURDER - TESTIFIED ABOUT THE EVENTS OF THE DAY, THE WEAPON'S OWNERSHIP, AND WHAT THEY DID AFTER THE MURDER. HILL, WHO MADE A DEAL FOR A REDUCED SENTENCE, CLAIMED RICE KILLED MILLER AT HER DIRECTION AFTER SHE CLAIMED SHE WAS RAPED BY MILLER. HILL REVEALED SHE PAWNED THE GUN AFTER THE CRIME. A DETECTIVE TESTIFIED TO LOCATING THE PAWNED GUN, SENDING IT TO THE CRIME LAB, AND CONFIRMING IT HAD MILLER'S BLOOD.