UPDATE: Joyner guilty of first degree Murder

Jury reaches verdict in less than 25 minutes

Haron Joyner has been convicted of first-degree murder in the stabbing death of his wife, Jessica. 

The La Crosse County jury received the case at about 2:45 p.m. Tuesday and had a verdict about 20 minutes later.

Jessica Joyner was stabbed three times during an argument with her husband in March. One wound cut two blood vessels in her neck. 

The 29-year-old mother of five died a short time later, after going to a neighbor for help. 

The five young children were in their apartment when the murder occurred. Some saw what had happened and testified.

After she was stabbed, the kids accompanied her to the neighbor’s, while she was bleeding profusely.

Haron Joyner’s attorney argued that the stabbing was not planned ahead of time and should be considered reckless homicide, but the prosecution said Joyner thought about stabbing his wife in the head or neck. 

The 35-year-old Joyner faces a life sentence at a hearing February 7.