Sandy Maree Graham found guilty of murdering Dale Watene

Sandy Graham and George Hyde in the dock in the High Court at Invercargill at the beginning of the trial. Photo / Karen Pasco

There was a yelp of relief from the public gallery as a foreman announced Sandy Maree Graham guilty of murdering Dale Watene at her home on April 16, 2020.

The jury also found George Ivor Hyde guilty of accessory after the fact to manslaughter between April 16 and 27, 2020.

Watene's body was found in a shallow grave in the Longwood Forest near Otautau on May 18, 2020, and was excavated two days later.

On the 18th day of the trial before Justice Gerald Nation in the High Court at Invercargill, the foreman delivered the verdicts at 3.56pm.

The jury took two days to come to its decision after retiring at 4pm on Tuesday.

Dale Watene. Photo / Supplied

The Crown's case was that Graham knowingly shot Watene on the night of April 16.

At the start of the trial on June 13, defence lawyer for Graham, 32, Sarah Saunderson-Warner said Watene had been shot at Graham's home but it was not done on purpose nor with murderous intent – it was an accident.

Through defence lawyer Fiona Guy Kidd QC, Hyde also admitted he disposed of the body, but says Graham told him at the time that Watene had taken his own life and he believed her.

Evidence from experts, friends and family members was delivered throughout the four-week trial. More than eight hours of police interviews were watched during the trial.

The Crown's case was that Graham had intentionally shot Watene on the night he died.

Her defence was that his death was accidental, there had been a struggle with the gun and when the firearm went off and killed him, she had not known it was loaded and attempts to cover up what had happened were because she did not want to lose her children.

Justice Nation thanked jurors for their participation in the trial in what had been trying times, he said.

He said their responsibility was great.

"You were here as representatives of your community, I just say that your community should be immensely grateful and have tremendous respect for you."

Graham was remanded in custody and Hyde remanded on bail to both appear for sentence in the High Court at Invercargill on November 8.