Sydney GP Brian Crickitt has been found guilty of murdering his wife by injecting her with a fatal dose of insulin.

She was then found dead at the couple’s home in Woodbine, Sydney, on New Year’s Day 2010.

The trial, heard by a judge alone, was told that 63-year-old Crickitt killed his wife so he could claim her life insurance and start a new life with his lover.

It heard evidence that Crickitt and his wife were in a “toxic” relationship, and Crickitt was having an affair with another woman, Linda Livermore.

Crickitt was motivated to murder his wife so he could marry Ms Livermore, claim more than half-a-million dollars from his wife’s life insurance and retain their shared property interests, the court heard.

Linda Livermore (centre), the woman with whom Dr Crickitt was having an affair at the time of the murder. Photo: AAP.

Crown prosecutor Mark Tedeschi QC said Crickett knew insulin degraded quickly in a body, and that the corpse would show no traces of it 24 hours later.

Primary motive ‘dislike’ of wife

Justice Clifton Hoeben told the court Crickitt’s primary motive was his dislike of his wife.

“I have found that the Crown has established that a combination of an increasing dislike for the deceased and his infatuation with Miss Livermore provided a motive for the accused to murder the deceased,” he said.

“Given my other findings, not only am I satisfied that it would have provided an adequate motive, I have concluded that it was, in fact, the primary motive.

Though an autopsy found no clear cause of death, Justice Hoeben was satisfied Ms Crickitt was injected by her husband.

“The administration of the insulin to the deceased was a deliberate act on the part of the accused and this act caused the death of the deceased.”</p> <p>
Justice Clifton Hoeben

“It follows that I am satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that the Crown has proved that the accused committed the offence on the indictment.”

‘Intentional insulin overdose’ internet searches ‘damning’

Crickitt searched on Google for “intentional insulin overdose” and information about symptoms the day before he murdered his spouse.

Justice Hoeben said in his judgement that the internet searches were damning.

“I have found that the Crown has established that the only rational explanation for the internet searches relating to insulin deaths was that the accused was seeking to obtain information to further his plan to murder his wife by an injection of insulin,” he said.

Dr Brian Crickitt with current wife Julie outside the court. Photo: AAP.

Justice Hoeben found that Crickitt had lied to police and to his current wife Julie Crickitt on a number of different matters.

He said lies told in the aftermath of the killing were particularly relevant.

“I have found that those specific lies as to his whereabouts after he left his home … did indicate a consciousness of guilt on his part,” he said.

‘They’ve honoured our mum in seeking the truth’

Crickitt gave little reaction as the verdict was read out.

His new wife Julie and daughter hugged him before he was taken away by court officials.

Many members of Christine Crickitt’s family were present in court and also had little reaction to the verdict.

Outside court, Christine’s daughter Tracey Wiggins thanked police for their seven years of tireless work.

“They’ve honoured our mum in seeking the truth and giving that truth a platform publicly to be heard and for that we’ll forever be grateful,” she said.

“We’re thankful that the outcome has protected the community. It’s an outcome which can help save other people from potential harm.”

She said the years of waiting for justice were painful.

“It cannot truly be appreciated in words the pain and impact it has on your everyday life. The sadness never goes away, but we have learned to appreciate life and to appreciate our mother even more for the good things she taught us,” she said.

Ms Wiggins said she hoped Crickitt would come to terms with what he did.

“We just hope that in reflection time, the party concerned could come to a point of truth for himself,” she said.

Crickitt’s bail was revoked and he will be sentenced at a later date.