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The family of Christchurch woman Emma Agnew have spoken of their relief that her attacker has been found guilty of her rape and murder.
Jurors at the High Court in Christchurch also found Liam James Reid guilty of raping, sexually violating, robbing and attempting to murder a student in Dunedin nine days after he killed Miss Agnew, 20.
Reid, 36, had denied the six charges against him.
Speaking outside the court Miss Agnew's family said their lives were changed forever.
"We miss Emma so much," her father Henry Agnew said.
Asked about Reid's apparent lack of remorse, Mr Agnew said: "Yeah. Well, we can't do anything about that".
"We are a very close family. So we will just keep going."
Miss Agnew's brother Toby said: "We just feel like it's just not fair. We can't bring our sister back to life. And it's changed our life forever. Killing someone is just not natural".
Asked about their feelings about Reid's testimony in court, the family said: "Liam needs to f***ing grow up".
Their thoughts were also with Reid's victim in Dunedin.
"And we are really thankful that both trials could be heard together."
A police spokesman said the victim of the Dunedin rape was "obviously very pleased with the verdict".
He said it had been a 12-month ordeal for the woman and her family.
"She has very good days and very bad days. But today's verdicts have helped what she needs to do.
"She's determined not to be a victim from this point on."
Miss Agnew's aunt, Evelyn Pateman, said the guilty verdicts brought some closure to a very difficult time, as well as "joy and satisfaction".
"But we wish it had never happened in the first place. Nobody wishes this on their worst enemy really - for a family member to be murdered like this."
Throughout the case, the family and deaf community watching the trial had wanted to "hold their composure and just think of Emma really".
"She wouldn't have wanted us to be yelling and screaming."
Tears in court
Jurors took approximately four hours to find him guilty of all charges, beginning deliberations at 3.10pm yesterday and resuming at 9am today after breaking overnight.
Their verdicts were delivered before packed public galleries in the upper and lower decks of the court, which included Emma Agnew's family and many of the local deaf community.
Members of the community let out gasps of relief and broke into tears as they heard the verdict, hugging each other.
Reid showed little emotion, other than rolling his eyes in response at the verdict.
He was remanded in custody for sentencing on December 12 when the Crown will seek a sentence of preventive detention.
As Reid was led away, one member of the community let out a cry and another made a hand gesture towards him.
Reaction to verdict
Reid's lawyer, David Bunce, said outside the court his client had handled the verdicts well. It was too early to speculate on an appeal.
Asked if having Reid testify in his own defence was a mistake, Mr Bunce said: "Well, no. Obviously I don't, otherwise I would not have done that".
Detective Inspector Tom Fitzgerald, who led the murder inquiry, said he was happy with the verdict, but "certainly it was expected".
It had been achieved after a "huge team effort" over 12 months, spanning two cities.
Reid's claim during the trial that he had been framed for the crimes was "not worthy of a response".
Rachel Noble, chief executive of the Deaf Association, said the one good thing to come out of the whole terrible ordeal was that the deaf and hearing communities had become closer.
It was a shame it had taken such a tragedy for this to happen.
The case
Emma Agnew disappeared after saying she was going to show someone her car.
Her body was found in Christchurch's Spencer Park eleven days after her murder - and two days after the Dunedin attack - and Reid was arrested the following day.
Reid claimed he had never met Miss Agnew and that he had been framed by police.
His defence questioned the Dunedin student's identification of Reid, saying she had not recalled Reid's tattoos on his chest, back, neck, arms and legs.
Counsel David Bunce also tried to discredit evidence from Reid's former partner - saying she that "put the boot in" at every conceivable opportunity when giving evidence against him.
