An ex-cop, who tried to convince police his wife had died falling from a ladder at their Queensland property, has been found guilty of her murder.
Louis Mahony, 44, was sentenced to life imprisonment over the crime Monday after a jury took less than four hours to return their verdict, The Courier Mail reports.
He initially claimed that his defacto wife of 18 years, Lainie Coldwell, had struck her head while removing party lights from a tree at the Charleville home on August 23, 2009.
Ex-cop Louis Mahoney, who tried to convince police his wife Lainie Coldwell (both pictured) had died falling from a ladder at their Queensland property, has been found guilty of her murder
However, during the extensive trial prosecutors argued that Mahony had staged the scene, with experts testifying that her single injury was not consistent with claims of a fall.
Instead, a rusted iron photographed among rocks at the base of the tree was believed to be the murder weapon, according to News Corp.
The item was not collected and later went missing, but had blood visible on its flat side which had been face down on the rocks.
Mahoney had reportedly stood to gain $2.25 million from life insurance policies taken out on Ms Coldwell in the months before her death.
Suspicions had been raised over the documents, which included one for $1.5 million and another for $750,000, with the company refusing to pay them out.
Other evidence from a laptop belonging to Mahony showed he had googled terms such as poisoning, car crashes and head injuries, as well as planned romantic getaways with a lover.
Mahony had claimed that Ms Coldwell (both pictured) had struck her head while removing party lights from a tree at the Charleville home on August 23, 2009, but a rusted and bloody iron was instead believed to have delivered the fatal blow
Mahony, 44, (pictured) was sentenced to life imprisonment over the crime Monday after a jury took less than four hours to return their verdict
Detective Renee Hoile, who arrested Mahony, said: ‘He’s searching Gold Coast limousines and Dracula’s Restaurant, and the Marriott Hotel. That’s leading up to the funeral and on the day of her funeral.’
Mahony remained free for six years following Ms Coldwell’s death until he was arrested in December 2016.
The pair had a daughter, Dakota, with the young girl just three years old at the time of her mother’s murder.
He showed no emotion when the verdict was announced this week, while cries of ‘yes’ could be heard throughout the packed gallery.
The former Northern Territory police officer had at one time been awarded a police commissioner’s commendation and had moved to Queensland after leaving the service in 2007.
He had reportedly stood to gain $2.25 million from life insurance policies taken out on Ms Coldwell in the months before her death (Pictured is the home where the incident occurred)