Boxx, 23, didn’t flinch as the foreman told Acting Justice Studdert the verdict was “guilty of manslaughter”.

“I was starting to think he would walk away with nothing,” Bernadette Healy said after waiting eight days for the jury to reach a unanimous verdict.

Two female jurors couldn’t hold back tears as the verdict was read, bringing to an end deliberations which had almost stalled last Friday when the jury told Justice Studdert it couldn’t reach a unanimous decision.

They were instructed to continue and at midday yesterday brought the six-week trial to a close.

Boxx, from Mudgee, had pleaded not guilty to murdering Mr Healy in his Wisteria Place home early on March 12, 2006.

Orange woman Libby Seaman, who knew Mr Healy for 25 years, said she couldn’t believe there was no conviction for murder.

“When you think two of the people will be out next year and this conviction is manslaughter, it doesn’t seem like justice - it’s just a few years,” Mrs Seaman said.

“When someone dies the way Michael did isn’t it supposed to be life for a life.”

Justice Studdert set down April 20 for sentencing and Boxx was taken into custody .

It is three years today since police found Mr Healy’s body with fatal head wounds in the front bedroom of his home where he was bludgeoned to death, with what police say was a heavy torch.

“It’s a relief that after three years the fourth person in this group responsible for Michael’s death has finally come to justice - but I suppose it isn’t really justice,” Ms Healy said.

Detective Sergeant Andrew McLean, who was in charge of the investigation and has been at court each day with Detective Senior Constable Kevin Beatty, said police and the prosecution worked hard to convict Boxx of murder but could not have arrested anyone for Healy’s death without people in the community who were prepared to come forward and give evidence.

“I would like to thank people in Orange and Mudgee who came to us with information and also thank my fellow officers in Orange, Strikeforce Janderra and the homicide squad,” he said.

Last Monday the jury told Justice Studdert it couldn’t come to a unanimous decision.

Justice Studdert instructed the jury to re-examine evidence more closely and just before 11.45am yesterday jurors filed back in to court with a verdict.