GUILTY! John Chardon guilty of wife's manslaughter
GOLD Coast businessman John Chardon has been found guilty of the manslaughter of his wife Novy Chardon in Brisbane Supreme Court today.
The 34-year-old mother of two went missing from their Upper Coomera home in February 2013.
Mr Chardon had just hours before received correspondence from his wife's divorce lawyer stating she was planning to take 50% of the couple's assets.
He was arrested and charged with his wife's murder in 2016.
The 72-year-old millionaire had pleaded not guilty to the original charge of murder, claiming she had packed her bags and left him.
The three week trial heard from over 70 witnesses, including Mr Chardon who spent three days protesting his innocence.
Chardon's defense team contended that Ms Chardon has indeed left him and was still alive or had died from unrelated causes.
Ms Chardon has been first thought missing when she failed to turn up to a coffee date with a close friend.
Various witness recounted how Mr Chardon's marriage was unraveling and Ms Chardon was afraid of her husband.
The prosecution stated that Mr Chardon had employed a carpet cleaning machine the morning after his wife's disappearance and traces of urine still in the carpet could indicate that he had done something to frighten her.
Despite the publicity of the investigation, no body has been found and no one has stepped forward with details of where Ms Chardon could be if alive.
The jury acquitted Mr Chardon of murder after nine hours of deliberation, instead finding him guilty of the lesser charge of manslaughter.
Mr Chardon showed no emotion as the jury read out their verdict amid the gasps from around the courtroom.
John Chardon will be sentenced at a later date.
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