A man who claimed he lost control when he strangled his childhood friend to death has been found guilty of murder.
David Douglas McLennan, 50, admitted he killed Caroline Smith at her home in far west Victoria in May 2025.
But he denied it was murder, claiming he snapped during an argument and did not realise his strength.
A Victorian Supreme Court jury on Tuesday rejected his claims, returning their guilty verdict after a day of deliberations.
McLennan and Ms Smith had been friends at school in Western Australia, and he joined her and her husband in Victoria in October 2023.
Ms Smith's husband was diagnosed with late-stage cancer and she had asked McLennan if he could live with them to help around the home.
After Ms Smith's husband died in September 2024, McLennan remained at the house but their friendship was volatile.
They had serious fights, including an incident in December 2024 where McLennan allegedly assaulted Ms Smith.
He claimed on the night of May 11, 2025, they had another fight and he lost control.
She was last captured on home CCTV entering her laundry at 9.24pm.
McLennan attacked Ms Smith sometime between 9.30pm and 10pm, strangling the 48-year-old to death.
He was then captured on CCTV walking into an alfresco area and saying to himself, "I'm pretty sure you killed her".
McLennan spent the next four days drinking beer and lying about Ms Smith's health, telling friends she was unwell with gastro.
It was only when police carried out a welfare check on May 15 that officers discovered Ms Smith's dead body.
McLennan had fled and tried to harm himself but officers found him in a nearby shed.
His barrister Rosalind Avis told jurors McLennan had killed Ms Smith but he was not a murderer.
"He lost control by placing his hand on her neck," she said.
"It was clearly a dangerous act ... but that is not the same thing as intending to kill.
"Intent is more than a loss of control - it's a desire for the outcome."
Ms Avis said McLennan's words captured on the CCTV showed his true intention.
"Are they words of someone who intended to kill somebody?" she asked.
"Or are they the words of someone who is in shock at what he's done because he didn't intend to do it?"
A forensic expert determined McLennan had strangled Ms Smith for at least three minutes, crown prosecutor David Glynn SC said.
He also changed his grip during the attack, so he had opportunities to stop, Mr Glynn said.
"That is a long time to be squeezing someone's neck," the prosecutor said.
"It shows an intention to kill."
The jury began deliberating on Monday after hearing six days of evidence.
McLennan will face a pre-sentence hearing on November 24.
