PITTSBURGH — Jurors who convicted a University of Pittsburgh researcher of first-degree murder in the cyanide poisoning death of his wife say they didn’t find his explanations believable and were moved by a 911 call.

Dr. Robert Ferrante, who hung his head when the verdict was read in court Friday, faces a mandatory life sentence in the April 2013 death of his wife, 41-year-old neurologist Dr. Autumn Klein.

“I think he had incredible coaches,” juror Helen Ewing said. “I think he had a year to think about what story he wanted to tell.”

Ewing said she was “horrified” by the suffering of Klein heard on the 911 call Ferrante made while his wife was groaning, moaning and gasping for air in the background. Fellow juror Lance Deweese said, “It got you in the gut. It got you in the heart.”