KEY POINTS:
Shane Daniel Randle has been found guilty of murdering Wanganui barmaid Tania McKenzie.
A jury in the High Court in Wellington returned its verdict this afternoon after retiring at lunchtime today.
Randle, 28, had pleaded not guilty to murdering Ms McKenzie on her 20th birthday on January 7, 2005.
He was also found guilty of two counts of sexual violation against Ms McKenzie.
Ms McKenzie's naked and brutally beaten body was found floating in the Whanganui River.
A post mortem revealed she had died from multiple crushing, blunt force injuries to her face and head, with multiple facial and skull fractures and lacerations to her brain.
The Crown alleged Randle, who worked as a bouncer at the Red Lion Inn where Ms McKenzie also worked, killed her after she rejected his advances.
Randle had claimed a lover, Dana Perry, committed the murder.
Justice Ronald Young summed up the case for both sides this morning before the jury of 11 retired to deliberate.
The public gallery was almost full with Ms McKenzie's family and supporters.
- NZPA
