Husband is found guilty of murdering his estranged wife more than 17 years ago after mum of-three was shot dead

A man accused of fatally shooting his estranged wife during a bitter court case has been found guilty of her murder more than 17 years later.

Emil ‘Bill’ Petrov, 60, faced a three-week trial in which prosecutors alleged he murdered Cindy Crossthwaite, 41, at her home in Melton South, Melbourne on June 20, 2007.

The mother-of-three’s body was found by her father under a blanket in the living room, with blood splashing across the windows.

The jury was told Ms Crossthwaite had been strangled and shot in the head from a distance of about 15 centimetres.

Prosecutor Mark Gibson argued that Petrov fired the fatal shot, but the jury could also find that he committed the murder by arranging an unknown person to carry out the killing.

He told the jury that Petrov and Ms Crossthwaite were married for almost ten years before splitting in 2005.

In May 2007, they faced family court hearings as they attempted to divide their assets, with Petrov arguing for the exclusion of several properties because they belonged to his parents.

The case was adjourned until July that year and Mr Gibson argued that Petrov was aware that his financial interests would be adversely affected if proceedings were resumed.

Emil Petrov (pictured) was found guilty of the murder of his estranged wife on Wednesday

The prosecutor claimed that the legal battle was the key part of Petrov’s motive for murder.

But Petrov denied causing Ms Crossthwaite’s death, while his lawyers said the extent of the couple’s property battle was in dispute.

The defense also disputed witness Brian O’Shea’s claims that Petrov had come to him in April or May 2007 to buy a gun.

Mr O’Shea said Petrov told him he would kill Ms Crossthwaite, but he also admitted he was only giving evidence to avoid being charged with murder.

Jurors handed down their verdict on Petrov on Wednesday afternoon, just over a week after deliberations began.

When asked how they found him on the murder charge, the foreman of the jury answered ‘guilty’.

Petrov looked at his girlfriend and wiped his face, appearing stressed as the verdict was delivered.

He was previously released on bail and will now be taken to prison pending a pre-sentence hearing on March 21.

Police have announced a $1 million reward for information into Ms Crossthwaite’s death in 2017

Mrs Crossthwaite’s family hugged each other and wiped away tears as the verdict was handed down.

The mother’s body was discovered by her father, Philip Crossthwaite, after she failed to collect her two eldest children, then aged ten and eight, from school.

She was last seen dropping them off at school earlier in the day.

Her youngest son, who was just 15 months old at the time, was home when she was killed, police said.

Police have announced a $1 million reward for information into Ms Crossthwaite’s death in 2017.

Speaking outside the court, Ms Crossthwaite’s aunt Kathleen Jones appeared overcome with emotion and said the verdict felt ‘better than winning the lotto’.

“It’s just amazing for all the women who have been abused by men, domestic violence. It’s good that the justice system stood up and finally got him,” she told reporters.

“It’s been a long time coming, so we’re so glad she’s getting justice.”