Hawaii's first death penalty case will not result in execution after all.

Reuters reported that former soldier Naeem Williams will be sentenced to life behind bars for murdering his 5-year-old daughter. The verdict was handed down Friday after a Honolulu jury failed to come to a consensus after seven days of deliberation.

Hawaii has not executed anyone since 1944, and execution was outlawed before it become a state in 1959. However, because the crime occurred on a military base (where Naeem Williams lived), federal law allowed prosecutors to pursue capital punishment.

Williams faced two counts of first-degree murder in the death of young Talia. She was killed July 16, 2005, when her father struck her violently in the chest, causing her to fall and hit her head.

The second count was added because of extensive evidence of long-term physical abuse before she was murdered. Talia's stepmother, Deliah Williams, who took a 20-year plea deal, testified that the couple beat the girl daily with a belt or by hand because of her bladder control issues. Deliah said they also duct-taped the girl to a bed, withheld food for days and removed her from kindergarten to avoid questioning about her marks and bruises.

Naeem Williams' defense attorney, Michael Blurt, said, "This is an incident that happened in the context of discipline," arguing that Williams did not intend to kill his daughter.

Department of Justice attorney Steve Mellin countered that the death was the culmination of horrific violence and abuse, saying, "He increased the pain. He increased the suffering. He intended all of it."

Naeem Williams' attorney also argued that Naeem is mentally deficient (citing a low IQ) and had been abused by his stepfather.

Talia's biological mother, Tarshia Williams, told The Associated Press she was satisfied with the verdict. "Even though they're deadlocked, I still feel that I've got some kind of closure that the trial is finally over, because I had to wait nine long years, and that was hard.

"It's going to be a long, hard journey of healing," she said. "I'll never forget what happened to her, and she will always live in my heart, no matter what."