But Michael Bradley Small was found not guilty of murdering his partner's friend on August 30, 2020.
The decomposed body of 48-year-old Mr Stephens was found at his home at Taringa in inner Brisbane on September 3.
Prosecutors said during the two-week Brisbane Supreme Court trial the torture and murder of Mr Stephens was the "fairytale ending" for Small after eight months of growing hostility.
After deliberating for about six hours a jury on Friday found Small not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter.
The court heard Small, an escort, disliked Mr Stephens for interfering in the 37-year-old's relationship with Scott Richard Gordon.
The Crown alleged Mr Stephens let Gordon into his house in the early hours of August 30, with Small entering separately.
Small was accused of struggling with a naked Mr Stephens and taping his mouth.
Police who did a welfare check after Mr Stephens uncharacteristically failed to respond to calls form his mother found his decomposed body covered with a blanket and a pink sex toy nearby.
Gordon testified in Small's trial after earlier pleading guilty to Mr Stephens' manslaughter.
Small's barrister Michael Bonasia told jurors Mr Stephens literally had a broken heart because of illness and heavy, long-term methamphetamine use.
He also had a broken heart figuratively because the love of his life, Gordon, did not want to be with him.
Small remains in custody ahead of sentencing proceedings before Justice Peter Callaghan on Wednesday.
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