A jury has found Graham Robert Morant guilty of encouraging and helping his wife to take her own life over a plot to use her life insurance money to build a religious commune.
Morant, 69, was today convicted by a Brisbane Supreme Court jury of aiding and counselling Jennifer Morant to kill herself on the Gold Coast in 2014.
Morant was the sole beneficiary of her three life insurance policies totalling $1.4 million when she took her own life in November that year.
Ms Morant lived with chronic back pain and found even the most simple everyday tasks difficult.
But Morant persuaded her over the months before her death by telling her the funds would go towards a commune where he would be pastor.
Morant claimed to police his wife wanted to die, but two witnesses close to her testified she did not want to kill herself and was scared by his pressure on her to do so.
The jury deliberated for a day-and-a-half before reaching their verdict today.
Morant will not be sentenced today. The judge has reserved sentencing until October 19 due to the complexity of the case.
