In the first case of its kind in Georgia, two vegan parents were convicted by a Fulton County jury Wednesday of starving their newborn to death.

Fulton prosecutors painted a grim picture of a newborn murdered by starvation. They said his parents kept only one bottle in the house, and only fed their son soy milk and apple juice.

Prosecutors said it was planned; that their vegan diet was just a ruse. They said 6-week-old Crown Thomas never stood a chance.

"Had the child received breast milk, had the child been adequately fed, he would be alive," said Fulton County prosecutor Michael Carlson.

But the defense and the parents -- Jade Sanders and Lamont Thomas -- said they did what they thought was best for their baby boy. They were vegans. They said soy milk and apple juice seemed like a reasonable alternative.

"They did what they thought was right," said the baby's grandmother, Carlyn Thomas.

Minutes after the verdict, the emotional father said, "We didn't starve my son to death. We didn't starve my son for weeks and weeks and weeks."

Jurors found both parents guilty of murder and child cruelty.

"In fact, the first time he ever saw a doctor was when he was brought dead on arrival to Piedmont Hospital in a state that was clearly beyond malnourishment, but starvation," said Carlson.

"You know we've been vegetarians," said Lamont Thomas. "We're against animal cruelty. So why would I be cruel to my son? We're against animals being burdened. Why would be cruel and burden him and try to drive around and do something with his body? We're going to jail for no reason."

Jade Sanders and Lamont Thomas face a mandatory life sentence in prison for the murder conviction. They remain in Fulton County Jail until sentencing next week.