AMITE---A 12-person criminal jury deliberated only 20 minutes Friday in district court in Amite before finding Michael Pennington, 25, of Hammond, guilty of second degree murder for his role in the brutal slaying of Hammond businessman Byron Williams, 45.

AMITE---Four members of the jury pool summoned to the district courthouse in Amite Tuesday for the murder trial of Michael Pennington were excused by Judge Robert Morrison after he learned they had been approached by two women who said Pennington had already served enough time in jail.