Cory Jefferies showed no emotion after a jury unanimously decided he was guilty of murdering his partner Kim Richmond.
Newshub reporter Jared McCulloch said Jefferies was "very unemotional" after the murder verdict was announced at Hamilton's High Court on Monday.
McCulloch told RadioLIVE there were gasps from the public gallery as the ruling was announced, and Ms Richmond's mother was reported to be in no state to speak.
The jury was expected to make their decision on Friday, after spending nearly six hours going over evidence. But the ruling was postponed until Monday.
McCulloch said the jury was out for just over half an hour from 10am Monday morning until about 10:45am.
Given the jury only came back for half an hour on Monday, it seems odd that the decision was delayed, said RadioLIVE host Mark Sainsbury. After all, the jury had most of the day on Friday to consider the evidence.
But it was a tough case for them, said McCulloch, as they had to go over a lot of small details presented in the case, such as cell phone data which led police to Lake Arapuni in southern Waikato where Ms Richmond's body was found in July 2016.
Ms Richmond went missing after a night out watching the rugby in the small town of Arohena. The cause of her death was undetermined, which may have made it difficult for the jury to make their decision.
But McCulloch said the jury was "very relaxed" when they returned to announce their decision which was unanimous, which suggests they had sufficient evidence to make their ruling.
Jefferies had admitted to manslaughter but denied murder. He is currently remanded in custody, and his sentencing will be held at the High Court on September 7.
Newshub.
