A Perth man has been found guilty of murdering a love rival by ambushing him in a hallway and repeatedly stabbing him in the chest.
Daniel James Carrington stood trial in the West Australian Supreme Court, claiming he acted in self-defence against father-of-four Benjamin Egan in Northbridge in April 2017.
The jury deliberated for four-and-a-half hours before returning their guilty verdict on Friday.
People in the public gallery gasped and cried when the verdict was handed down, while Carrington also appeared emotional.
CCTV footage played in court showed part of the fatal attack, followed by Carrington walking out of the Foundation Housing building then running away.
He eventually handed himself in to police.
The court heard Mr Egan and Carrington had become friends years earlier when they were neighbours and Mr Egan would stay with Carrington whenever his partner, Amanda Wilson, kicked him out.
But their friendship soured after Carrington had a one-month sexual relationship with Ms Wilson during a period of separation for the long-term couple.
Carrington also learnt Mr Egan had allegedly broken into his storage unit.
Defence counsel Jonathan Davies said Mr Egan had a "longstanding and visceral hatred" for Carrington and had created a "climate of fear" for him.
"In the agony of the moment ... Daniel Carrington believed in his own mind, and quite reasonably so, that he himself was in danger," Mr Davies said.
Carrington testified that Mr Egan had previously tried to attack him, including one incident in which Mr Egan came out of the shadows and tried to stab him.
Ms Wilson told the jury the final couple of years of her relationship with Mr Egan were marred by his methylamphetamine use, during which they repeatedly broke up and reunited.
She said the men had had "a couple of fights" before the killing, including one incident in September 2016 when Carrington came to her home armed with a knife and had a confrontation with Mr Egan.
It was also revealed during Ms Wilson's testimony that she had written a letter to Carrington while he was in prison on remand last year, expressing a desire to be with him, and she was hurt when he rejected her.
Justice Michael Corboy ordered a psychological and pre-sentence report ahead of a sentencing hearing on February 26.
Mr Egan's brother-in-law Simon Clark told reporters outside court that the family was happy with the verdict and looked forward to the sentencing for the "callous act of murder".
"This case has been going on for two years and finally the family can now move forward knowing that Daniel Carrington will be behind bars for what he has done," Mr Clark said.
"He took a son, a brother, and most importantly a father to four beautiful girls."
Australian Associated Press
