A Scott man was convicted of first-degree murder yesterday in the January 2007 killing of his wife, and of orchestrating a multistate journey to dump her body.

An Allegheny County jury found Henry Lanz, who wore a hunter green fleece sweat shirt in the courtroom, guilty on all counts after about five hours of deliberation.

In closing arguments before Common Pleas Judge Jeffrey A. Manning yesterday, the defense attorney and prosecutor both painted a picture of Mr. Lanz, 42, as a despicable character who had talked to friends about killing his estranged wife and, after she was slain, helped a friend dispose of her body.

But defense lawyer J. Richard Narvin, of the Office of Conflict Counsel, told jurors just because Mr. Lanz isn't "one of the most likable people you'll meet" doesn't mean he killed Paula Lanz.

The prosecution's case hinged on the testimony of Mr. Lanz's friend Karl Laughlin, who testified that he saw Mr. Lanz shoot his wife in the head after they had an argument at the couple's Scott home.

Mr. Laughlin, 50, then drove Ms. Lanz's Kia minivan, with her corpse wrapped in a blanket in the back, through several states before he burned the car in Nashville, Tenn., because he thought the police were on his trail. Mr. Laughlin, who was on the lam from assault charges, was arrested while hitchhiking back to Pennsylvania.

Mr. Laughlin testified that he took Ms. Lanz's corpse out of fear, and that Mr. Lanz had threatened to kill him as well.

Defense lawyers said Mr. Laughlin was actually the shooter and had made up the story to serve his own needs.

The district attorney agreed not to prosecute Mr. Laughlin for homicide, and he faces a separate trial on charges of conspiring and burning the body.

Veronica Bretensky, another of Mr. Lanz's lawyers, said that although she expected the guilty verdict, she did not think Mr. Laughlin's case was handled properly.

"We were not happy he wasn't charged with homicide," Ms. Bretensky said. "I don't think we've heard the whole story here. Karl had a lot to gain by getting up there and testifying."

In her closing argument, Assistant District Attorney Stephie Ramaley told jurors Mr. Lanz had the motive to kill Ms. Lanz because their marriage had fallen apart and she wanted him out of the house. He then "picked the perfect pawn to help him get rid of his wife," she said.

Mr. Laughlin was fleeing an active warrant for domestic violence and he was an admitted crack user with prior arrests, she said, but "he did not kill Paula Lanz."

She focused on Mr. Lanz's pattern of lies -- saying he was playing with his kids on sleds when the murder occurred, saying nothing to his boss about his wife being missing and covering up information about the gun used in the crime.

Several family members of Ms. Lanz, including her mother, wept as the verdict was read and expressed relief at the result.

"My cousin is at peace right now," said Amy Lockhart. "We're all happy that this is all over. ... I think justice was served."