Former Elmira Jackals hockey player Thomas Clayton is guilty of murder in the death of his wife in September of 2015.

The Binghamton native had been accused of hiring a hit-man, Michael Beard, to kill 35 year old Kelley Clayton.  Mark Blandford is also charged with murder, burglary and conspiracy in the case but prosecutors agreed to reduce the count to manslaughter in exchange for his testimony.

After about a month of testimony in the Clayton trial, the jury in Steuben County deliberated only about 6 hours to convict Clayton of first and second degree murder.

An appeal is possible.

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