A Carson real estate agent who claimed he killed his employee, who was also his former girlfriend, in self-defense was convicted of second-degree murder with a handgun Friday.

The Los Angeles Superior Court jury found 47-year-old Michael Wright guilty of killing Sherrelle Muhammad, a 34-year-old mother Wright had been romantically involved with, during a December 2006 fight in a Long Beach alley.

During his testimony, Wright said he and Muhammad - who was engaged to marry another man after her six-year relationship with Wright ended four months prior - got into a fight inside her car when Muhammad pulled out a gun. Wright then said a struggle ensued and he was shot in the wrist before he gained control of the gun and shot Muhammad 10 times.

Muhammad's body was found by refuse workers on Dec. 26, 2006, in the 6700 block of Delta Avenue, next to Compton Community College. Her white Lincoln Navigator was found later that day near 138th Street and McKinley Avenue, burned, with Wright's bloody suit jacket inside.

These actions drew the scrutiny of Deputy District Attorney Mary Suzukawa during Wright's testimony, as she asked him why he burned her vehicle and attempted to dispose of his jacket and the gun, which was dumped in a trash bin.

Wright - who also said Muhammad was one of his best agents at Right Realty and Investments, where he worked as her boss - responded by saying at the time he was "shocked" and "concerned" for

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Muhammad's four children.

Wright is due back in court Sept. 15 for his sentencing.