(August 28, 2008)—A jury Thursday in Lampasas County returned a guilty verdict in the capital murder trial of Donald Gower, 40, of Copperas Cove, who was accused of hiring a hit man to shoot his wife to death in order to collect on a life insurance policy.

He was automatically sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Hidi Gower was found gunned down in front of the Kempner VFW on July 4, 2007, after her husband allegedly sent her outside to retrieve something from their car.

She was airlifted to Scott & White Hospital in Temple where she died shortly after arrival.

The gunman, Chaka Johnson, was sentenced to life in prison without parole in June.

Testimony began Monday.

Prosecutors weren’t seeking the death penalty.

Two other defendants in the case Jeremiah John Ellison and John Robert Martinez have pre-trial hearings set for next month.