Jurors deliberated for just more than a day before finding Melvin and Denise Wright guilty of attempted murder after they nearly starved their 12-year-old daughter to death in 2007.

The couple, who were divorced while awaiting trial in the case, face up to life in prison with the possibility of parole when they are sentenced by Family Court Judge Rhonda Nishimura in December.

Their daughter weighed only 29 pounds when paramedics were summoned to treat her at the Wrights' Kina'u Street apartment in January 2007.

The child suffered permanent brain damage but now is physically healthy and living with her grandparents in South Carolina.

Attorneys in the case had no comment after the verdicts were returned because of a gag order instituted on them at the start of the case.

Denise Wright's lawyer, Deputy Public Defender Debra Loy, asked Nishimura to continue the gag order until possible appellate proceedings are completed.

Nishimura agreed to continue the order at least until the Wrights are sentenced.

Loy argued during the trial that her client was so debilitated by mental illness that she "became psychologically unable" to care for her daughter.

NEAR DEATH

Denise Wright testified in her own defense that she was too "ashamed and afraid" to seek help for the child as she became weaker and weaker from lack of nourishment.

Wright said she depended on her estranged husband, who was living elsewhere with another woman, for money and other assistance while she and her daughter, Indigo, stayed in their Kina'u Street apartment, rarely venturing outside. When food grew scarce, Wright said, she would feed Indigo macaroni and cheese or potatoes "one or two times a day."

Melvin Wright told her "he was doing the best he could" when she said there wasn't enough food in the house, she said.

Melvin Wright's lawyer argued to jurors that his client "was not the greatest father, but he did not commit the offense of attempted murder in the second degree."

The girl was nearly 50 pounds underweight and near death when she was taken to Kapi'olani Medical Center for Women & Children for emergency treatment.

Wright said she herself ate mostly "junk food" like cookies and chips that her husband brought to her. She said she and Melvin Wright did not appear to suffer from weight loss.

During cross examination of Denise Wright, Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Maurice Arrisgado said, "Neither of you lifted a finger to help her."

Denise Wright responded, "I tried to do the best I could."