Hillier guilty of murder - Jury takes three hours to reach its verdict.

(From Canberra Times)

A Chisholm father was yesterday found guilty of murdering his former de facto wife in her home just days after she had won custody of their two children.

Steven Wayne Hillier, 41, of Chisholm, killed Ana Louise Hardwick, 35, at her Isabella Plains home between September 30 and October2, 2002.

Hillier strangled Ms Hardwick 10 days after he had lost a Family Court battle for the custody of their then 11-year-old son and eight-year-old daughter.

Ms Hardwick's body was found in her fire-damaged bedroom by her parents, face down and covered in soot, after she had failed to turn up to work two days in a row.

Hillier showed no emotion when the verdict was read out at 3.30pm in the ACT Supreme Court. He took a deep breath as he was led …