Soon after a Houston jury convicted Clara Harris of murdering her husband with her Mercedes-Benz, the sentencing phase of the trial began Thursday.

The Houston-area dentist showed no emotion as the verdict was read, although she was held by each arm by her defense attorneys.

Jurors, two of whom cried when state District Judge Carol Davies read the verdict, deliberated about eight hours over two days.

Jurors were asked to consider murder and the lesser offenses of manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide for Harris.

The penalty phase began after a 30-minute recess.

In opening statements, defense attorney George Parnham asked jurors for leniency.

"I'm asking this jury to assess the term of years in the penitentiary to be less than 10 years, and that you determine that sentence be probated," Parnham said.

Parnham said that Harris is not a threat to society. She has two children to raise and is therefore a perfect candidate for community service, he said.

The state's only witness in the punishment phase was Clara Harris' 17-year-old stepdaughter, Lindsey Harris, who was a passenger in the car as her father was killed. Lindsey Harris also testified during the trial against her stepmother.

Lindsey Harris testified Thursday morning that she has been treated for depression and has cut her wrist twice since her father's death. She also testified that her grades have dropped to Cs and Ds, she quit cheerleading and does not care about life anymore.

"It was terrifying. She was killing him. I knew he wouldn't be OK. I knew I would never see my dad again. I didn't get to say goodbye," Lindsey Harris testified.

The judge sent the jury away when Clara Harris began to sob and when they were gone, she cried out to her stepdaughter saying, "I'm sorry, Lindsey. I'm sorry, baby,'' earning an admonishment from the judge to compose herself.

Parnham took up for his client saying, "What do you want me to do? She's just been convicted of murder."

Harris could face up to life in prison, but if jurors decide she acted as a result of sudden passion, she could get between two to 20 years behind bars or probation.

Sudden passion is legally defined as the following:

• Accused was provoked by the victim
• Crime happened at the time of the offense
• Provocation made an ordinary person so enraged that he or she was incapable of cool reflection

The sentencing phase is expected to continue into next week.

Legal experts told News2Houston that they were not surprised by the verdict.

"I'm not surprised," former prosecutor Chip Lewis said. "The presentation that the state made with that litany of eyewitnesses -- their consistency -- in contrast with Clara's, 'I don't remember' on the critical issue of the impact in the running over, it was in the offing."

"Not really surprised," said Mike Degeurin, who is a defense attorney. "There's still a lot of issues left in this case. What's the proper sentence is the big issue right now."

On Wednesday, the jurors returned to the courtroom at one point to have testimony read back from the transcript in which Clara Harris said she "wanted to separate" her husband from Bridges but that she only wanted "to hurt him emotionally."

Parnham said jurors needed to consider the mindset of Clara Harris in July as she watched her 44-year-old orthodontist husband come off a hotel elevator hand-in-hand with his receptionist, Gail Bridges. He said it was an accident when she struck him minutes later with her 4,000-pound Mercedes-Benz.

Prosecutors argued during closing arguments Wednesday that whether or not Clara Harris, 45, wanted to hit David Harris, she should be convicted in his death.

"That's what murder is," prosecutor Mia Magness argued. "It is the momentary loss of respect for the sanctity of human life."

"You're judging the mind of a person and I want you to have the courage to do it," Parnham said. "I want this jury to acquit."