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A jury in Phoenix found Jodi Arias guilty of first degree murder after three days of deliberations in a sensational trial

A crowd of several hundred people waited outside the courthouse for word of the verdict to be announced.

Arias, 32, was accused of killing ex-boyfriend Travis Alexander in the shower of his suburban Mesa, Ariz., home in June 2008. Alexander was shot in the head and stabbed and slashed more than two dozen times. Arias' palm print was found in blood at the gruesome scene, along with nude photos of her and the victim from the day of the killing.

The California woman could face the death penalty if convicted of first-degree murder. Jurors also could convict Arias of second-degree murder or manslaughter.

After the nearly five-month trial, 12 members of the jury began deliberations Monday in Maricopa County Superior Court in Phoenix. Prosecutor Juan Martinez said the killing was cold-blooded murder and Arias should be sentenced to death.

Arias spent 18 days on the witness stand testifying in her defense. Arias and her lawyers contended it was the culmination of a relationship in which she was emotionally, physically and sexually abused by Alexander.

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer said Tuesday that she believes Arias is guilty, but did not cite first-degree murder or a lesser charge. A first-degree murder conviction and death sentence could one day put a commutation request on the desk of an Arizona governor.