Man Facing Severe Legal Consequences for Tragic Incident Involving Estranged Partner

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

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 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 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 this morning.

He faces a maximum penalty of life behind bars.