(AP) – A jury has convicted a man of first-degree murder in the stabbing death of a woman nearly two years ago in northern Iowa.

Jurors Tuesday found 41-year-old Tyrone Washington Jr. guilty in the killing of 30-year-old Justina Smith in a park in Northwood.

The trial was moved to Webster County District Court in Fort Dodge due to concerns about the few black residents in Worth County. In May, the first Webster County trial was stopped after a judge agreed to strike the jury pool because it had no black members.

Washington, who is black, acknowledged stabbing Smith in August 2013 but claimed he did so in self-defense.

A first-degree murder conviction requires a life sentence.

The judge will sentence Washington on Aug. 31 in Northwood.