A Marine who admitted killing a prostitute in his Waikiki hotel room May 16 was found guilty Thursday of murder while engaging in an inherently dangerous act, a crime punishable by a maximum of life in prison without the possibility of parole, the Marine Corps said.

Closing arguments in the court-martial of Master Sgt. Nathaniel L. Cosby, accused in the death of Ivanice "Ivy" Harris, 29, ended at about 10:40 a.m. at Marine Corps Base Hawaii at Kaneohe Bay. The jurors started deliberating at about 12:15 p.m. and returned their verdict at about 1:45 pm.

Cosby, 39, who was in Hawaii on a temporary assignment from Iwakuni, Japan, also was found guilty of obstructing justice and attempting to patronize a prostitute, the Marines said.

The murder conviction relates to Cosby putting the woman in a chokehold during a fight in his room.

Cosby was found not guilty of unpremeditated murder, an official said.

The sentencing portion of the court-martial will begin at 8 a.m. Saturday, with the defense calling character witnesses.