Cory Jefferies has been found guilty of the murder of his partner of 26 years, Kim Richmond.
Now, after a painful trial, the family is now turning its focus to caring for the couple's three young children.
- Cory Jefferies 'unemotional' after guilty verdict of Kim Richmond's murder
- Kim Richmond murder trial: Defence calls no witnesses, gives no evidence
- Police footage shows Cory Jefferies crying about Kim Richmond's death's impact on kids
Almost two years to the day since she was killed, a verdict was delivered on Monday on who was responsible for Ms Richmond's death. There was a collective gasp, hugs and tears of relief from friends and family of the 42-year-old mother of three.
The jury was convinced by Crown prosecutor Ross Douch, who spent the trial detailing months of financial and marital troubles for the couple including death threats and another man - the couple's neighbour, Alfons Te Brake.
It was a relationship that ultimately ended with Jefferies killing the mother of his children.
Jefferies will reappear for sentencing at the High Court in early September - a sentence Ms Richmond's family hope will finally provide justice for her.
Almost three weeks after Ms Richmond disappeared, her killer told police how much his three young children were missing their mum.
"We just need her back," he said at the time.
On Monday, the family's victim support spokesperson told Newshub their top priority is caring for the children, who she says have now effectively lost both their mum and their dad.
During the trial, the defence had argued for manslaughter - but half an hour into the second day of deliberation a guilty verdict for murder was delivered.
Jefferies, 46, lied to the police and his children about Ms Richmond's whereabouts for months after killing her. It was almost a year after her disappearance that her body was found, with her clothes askew, in her submerged ute in Lake Arapuni.
Waikato Police welcomed the verdict, with area investigations manager Ross Patterson thanking the investigations team "who worked diligently and tirelessly on this case to find Kim, bring her home and seek justice on behalf of her family".
Jefferies was unemotional as the verdict was read, and it wasn't until the jury was dismissed that he looked as if he was about to cry. Throughout the trial he has been supported by a large group of family and friends, who were noticeably absent on Monday.
Newshub.
