Craig Short, found guilty of murdering his wife

A southwestern Ontario man has been found guilty of first-degree murder in the death of his wife following a five-week trial in Sarnia.

After deliberations spanning three days, a six-man, six-woman jury found Craig Short guilty as charged on Wednesday.

The 53-year-old St. Clair Township man, who now faces life in prison with no eligibility for parole for at least 25 years, turned his head away as the verdict was read and family members in the courtroom sobbed.

It was the second trial for Short.  The jury at his first trial was unable to reach a unanimous decision and a mistrial was declared.

Unlike the first trial, Short testified in his own defence and denied the Crown's contention that he had struck Barbara Short, 48, from behind at their home in October 2008.

Crown Attorney Richard Weatherston had admitted the case was circumstantial but argued the evidence showed Short lured his wife to the back of the family home and struck her from behind with a piece of fence post.