4pm: A MAREEBA man accused of murdering his 88-year-old employer on a Mt Carbine cattle farm two years ago has been found guilty of manslaughter.

Robert John Wilson, 61, had pleaded not guilty to murdering David Thornton on March 12, 2010.

But he did admit to hitting the grazier twice in the head with an axe before shooting him.

It took a Cairns Supreme Court jury just over two hours this afternoon to find Wilson not guilty of murder, but guilty of manslaughter based on diminished responsibility due to his bi-polar disorder.

Justice Jim Henry is hearing submissions on sentence this afternoon.

NEW CAIRNS.COM.AU COMMENT POLICY
We welcome your comments on this story. Comments are submitted for possible publication on the condition that they may be edited. Comments submitted without a full name and suburb/location will not be considered for publication. Please read our full comment policy and publication guidelines.

Share this article