THE MAN accused of killing his secret lover, Saints steward Paula Poolton, has today been found guilty of her brutal murder.

The jury took 12 hours to convict Royal Mail worker Roger Kearney, 57, of the violent stabbing of 40-year-old Paula and dumping her body in the boot of her car.

The father-of-two had tears in his eyes as the foreman revealed they had unanimously found him guilty, while gasps could be heard from the public gallery, where Paula's family have sat throughout the trial.

The jury of six men and six women have spent the last five weeks at Winchester Crown Court listening to evidence of how Kearney, of Painswick Close, Sarisbury Green, murdered his lover of three-months in October 2008.

Her body was not found until 11 days later, when police on patrol spotted her black Peugeot 206 parked in Duncan Road, Park Gate.

In a statement read out after the verdict, Paula's parents - Phil and Jenny Cross - and husband, Ricky Poolton, said: "We are all relieved that justice has been done for Paula today.

"It's been a very long road with ups and downs, but we're satisfied with the verdict.

"We would like to thank the major crime team, the barristers for the prosecution, the jury and our friends and family.

"We've had wonderful support from them and the court service, and we would like time and privacy to take this news in."

Detective Chief Inspector Darren O'Callaghan, the senior investigating officer in the murder of Paula Poolton, also spoke outside the court.

He said: "Today’s verdict has been the culmination of a long and exhaustive investigation into Paula Poolton’s murder on the October 17 2008.

"The investigation presented a number of unique challenges and I am grateful to those officers, staff and colleagues who contributed to the investigation.

"Many of those involved showed outstanding commitment and those efforts have ensured that the evidence in this case has been presented in front of a jury who have concluded that Roger Kearney did indeed murder Paula Poolton.

"We have worked closely with colleagues in the Crown Prosecution Service and with prosecuting Counsel, however it is the continual support of those who provided the police with information and most importantly, the friends and family of Paula whom I would like praise.

"Without that support, the role of the police is much more difficult.

"I very much hope that today’s conviction provides some comfort in what will no doubt be a long journey for those close to Paula in coming to terms with her death."

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