A Gwinnett County jury has found a father guilty of second degree murder, in what is believed to be the first such conviction in Georgia since the state Legislature approved the new charge two years ago.

George Landell and his wife Lauren Fristed are accused of diluting the breast milk for their 11-week-old daughter causing her to starve to death.

Landell wouldn't allow the child to be taken to the doctor, instead choosing to pray for her to get better.

The couple took the child to the hospital in March 2015 where she was pronounced dead.

Fristed pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of involuntary manslaughter earlier this month and testified against her husband.

Landell's spiritual advisor, Dewayne Murphy, who testified during the trial, spoke on his behalf before the sentence was imposed.  He asked Judge Ronnie Batchelor to consider that his friend was just trying to do God's will.

"He loved his daughter.  He was grieved at the loss of his daughter," Murphy said.

Landell thanked both the judge and the jury and said he felt the process was fair.

He was sentenced to 30 years, with 20 to serve behind bars.  He will be eligible for parole.