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The man found guilty of murdering Wellington man Tony Stanlake yesterday was convicted as a teenager of holding up a dairy armed with a fake pistol.
A jury of 11 returned its verdict yesterday afternoon after two days of deliberations at the High Court in Wellington.
Mr Stanlake's
handless body with his throat slashed was found washed up on Wellington's southern coast in July 2006.
The court was told the pair had been partners in a cannabis growing operation and Moore, 23, killed Mr Stanlake, 62, to get his share of the business.
Moore admitted disposing of Mr Stanlake's body, but said someone else killed him.
He was remanded in custody for sentencing on March 28.
Moore was jailed for 18 months when he was 17 for aggravated robbery after attempting to hold up a Wellington dairy armed with a fake gun while wearing a Scream-style mask.
He bungled the robbery, was attacked by a customer and locked outside by the female shop assistant. He was arrested after the incident was shown on the police programme Ten-Seven.
After yesterday's verdict, Justice Forrest Miller told the court he didn't usually comment on a jury's verdict, but he agreed with the guilty finding.
Outside the court the police officer in charge of the case, Detective Inspector Mike Arnerich, said it was not surprising the jury took so long to reach its verdict, considering the huge amount of evidence.
The verdict was the right outcome.
"Obviously just like Tony's family and friends we're very very happy," he told Radio New Zealand.
"The investigation team has put a significant amount of effort into it and obviously the jury took a long time to consider that evidence. We're very happy with the result."
Mr Stanlake's daughter Lisa Williams said the family was relieved at the verdict, after concerns the length of deliberations may lead to a hung jury.
"I'm just happy they saw through it at the end of the day and we got the guilty verdict it should have been."
But it was not good news for all.
Moore's mother was in tears in court as the verdict was read and defence lawyer Greg King was also disappointed.
"We've worked very closely with our client from the day of his arrest and you form rapports with them and obviously it's devastating for him and it's devastating for us," he told TV3.
- NZPA
