Meister Found Guilty In 2001 Shooting Death

An Idaho jury has convicted David Meister of first-degree murder and conspiracy during his retrial for the 2001 shooting death of a Moscow woman.

The jury returned the verdict Tuesday for the death of 21-year-old Tonya Hart, who was shot twice at point-blank range.

Meister was convicted in 2003 and sentenced to life in prison. The Idaho Supreme Court ordered a new trial, ruling that Judge John R. Stegner erred when he didn't allow Meister's defense to pursue a theory that another man killed Hart.

During Meister's retrial, jurors heard from Lane Thomas, who allegedly confessed to other inmates in the Asotin County Jail that he had killed Hart. But Thomas testified last week that he had nothing to do with Hart's death.