National

Man facing life behind bars for killing estranged wife

By AAP Newswire

Apr 16, 2025

Emil Petrov outside the Supreme Court of Victoria — Emil Petrov will be sentenced for murdering his estranged wife Cindy Crossthwaite some 20 years ago. -AAP Image

A man who shot dead his estranged wife almost two decades ago will finally learn his sentence for her murder.

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Emil "Bill" Petrov, 60, faced a three-week trial in November where prosecutors alleged he killed Cindy Crossthwaite, 41, at her Melton South home on June 20, 2007.

The mother-of-three's body was found by her father under a blanket in the lounge room, with blood splatters across the windows.

She had been choked and shot in the head from about 15cm away, a Victorian Supreme Court jury was told.

Petrov and Ms Crossthwaite separated in 2005 after being married for nearly a decade, and were facing Family Court hearings in the month before her death to divide up their assets.

The court case was adjourned to July of that year and prosecutors argued Petrov was aware his financial interests would be adversely affected when the proceedings resumed.

It was alleged the legal battle was a significant part of Petrov's motive for murder, but he denied causing Ms Crossthwaite's death.

The jury rejected his claims and found him guilty of murder on December 11 after a week of deliberations.

Justice Christopher Beale is due to hand down Petrov's sentence on Wednesday morning.

He faces a maximum penalty of life behind bars.

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By AAP Newswire

Australian Associated Press