ROCHESTER, N.Y. — A man has been convicted of beating his girlfriend to death in a Rochester home back in December.

A jury found Elwell McPhail guilty of second degree murder Friday.

Prosecutors say McPhaill beat Syreeta Knight to death at a home on Bernard Street, leaving a note behind explaining why he did it.

Representatives from Willow Domestic Violence Center sat in court with Knight's family during the trial.

One of Knight's friends who is also a former worker at Willow says Knight had used Willow services in the past to find safe housing. 

McPhail is scheduled to be sentenced July 2nd.