A NSW Supreme Court jury in Lismore has found a son guilty of the murder of his father.
Michael Phillip Martin, 28, was today found guilty of killing his father, 46-year-old Michael Anthony Martin, at a home near Murwillumbah in 2014.
The trial heard the day Michael Martin Senior died, it was the second time in less than 10 weeks he had been brutally attacked.
He lost an eye in the first attack, but died after being stabbed 16 times during the second.
The court heard in the months leading up to the attacks Michael Martin junior took out three life insurance policies in his father's name, but used his own contact details.
The potential payout on the policies was worth a total of $2.5 million.
As the jury considered its verdict this week in the trial of Michael Phillip Martin, a sentencing hearing involving his ex-wife Candace Martin began.
Candace Martin, 27, had already admitted to being an accessory to a murder her ex-husband was yet to be convicted of.
Ms Martin told the court she lied to police on many occasions because she feared for her life and safety.
"If I didn't [agree] I might be the one who was six feet under," she said.
"At the time I never thought he would be capable of such brutality. I didn't think that he was legitimate.
"He will get out eventually [and] I'm still scared of that day — it might even be in a few days."
Ms Martin also told the court she was reluctant to 'dob in' the man who was the father of her children.
"Is there supposed to be some kind of textbook on what you do if somebody you love kills somebody?" she said.
"You're putting it to me like we were two evil Bonnie and Clydes — that was not the case."
A suppression order on Ms Martin's case was lifted immediately after the jury in the murder trial returned a verdict of guilty.
Her sentencing hearing will continue tomorrow.
Michael Phillip Martin is likely to be sentenced in February.
