Gary Mills has been found guilty of pouring petrol over his partner and setting her and the home they shared on fire.
It was the Crown's case in the High Court trial at Rotorua that, after a day of drinking on May 1 last year, at about 11.50pm, Mills poured petrol over his partner Lyn Delzoppo's legs as she lay in her bed.
He then poured petrol on the end of her bed, around the room and at the entrance to her room in the lounge area, to block her exit.
The Crown alleged Mills then set his partner of eight years alight and ran up the road to the pub to get help instead of going to neighbours.
Ms Delzoppo managed to get out of the house but suffered severe burns. She survived 28 days in a coma before she died of her injuries.
Mills denied charges of murder and arson.
In his closing for the defence before the jury retired, his lawyer Paul Mabey said Mills was innocent.
He had woken to his partner on fire and had taken her outside, dousing the flames on her body, counsel said. Mills then went back inside and tried to put out the fire and then went for help.
It was true Mills had been fully clothed but he was not to be judged on his "lifestyle", Mr Mabey said.
About 8pm last night, the jury returned verdicts of guilty on both charges. They had gone out at 1pm and were back from dinner only about 30 minutes before reaching their verdicts.
Crown prosecutor Fletcher Pilditch said he would be applying for a minimum non-parole period on a life sentence.
Speaking to The Daily Post outside court last night, Ms Delzoppo's mother, Anita Delzoppo, said she was pleased with the verdicts.
Ms Delzoppo's family cried and hugged after the verdict. Mills and his family also wept.
Mrs Delzoppo told The Daily Post after the verdict was announced that it had been hard for the family, dealing with their loss and waiting for the trial.
"I'm just overwhelmed. It's been such a hard, long 13 months for us, 13 months of hell. I'm just glad it's finally all over," she said.
"How the hell anyone could do something like that I'll never know. Lyn didn't deserve this."
Ms Delzoppo's sister, Annie Delzoppo, said her sister, whose ashes were buried at Rotorua Cemetery with her daughter Shelley, who died aged 15, could now be put to rest properly.
"She can now rest in peace," she said.
Another sister, who came from Taranaki for the trial, Karen Wright, said it was good to finally know what happened and get the verdict they hoped for.
"We now know the truth and we can have closure," she said.
The neighbour who found Ms Delzoppo was also pleased with the verdict.
Karen Lambert found Ms Delzoppo burning, with skin peeling from her body as she huddled next to a dog kennel outside her home.
Ms Lambert, who gave evidence for the Crown during the trial, said she was pleased Mills was behind bars and "off our streets".
"I just hope she can rest in peace now," she said.
Mills' trial began in the High Court at Rotorua seven days ago before a jury and Justice Graham Lang.
Following the verdicts last night, Justice Lang thanked the jury members for their diligence.
"It's not an easy thing to judge a fellow human being," he said.
Justice Lang remanded Mills in custody to reappear in the High Court at Rotorua on July 30 for sentencing.
Partner found guilty of woman's fiery murder
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