Family’s 17-year bid for justice finally ends as evil husband is jailed at last after shooting his wife at point-blank range

An evil husband who murdered his wife by shooting the mother-of-three at point-blank range almost two decades ago has finally been sent to prison.

Emil ‘Bill’ Petrov, 60, was found guilty of the loving mum’s murder on Wednesday following a weeks-long jury trial at the Supreme Court in Melbourne.

The court had heard how Petrov had previously abused his estranged wife Cindy Crossthwaite before he murdered her at her Melton South home on June 20, 2007. 

Ms Crosthwaite’s family expressed relief after the verdict was handed down.

The murdered mum’s aunt Kathleen Jones said justice had been a ‘long-time coming’.  

‘It’s just amazing, for all the women who’ve been violated by men, it’s good that the justice system stood up and they finally got him,’ Ms Jones said.

‘She was a mum and he had abused her and beaten her for years.’

Petrov eluded jail for several years after his elderly mother posted a $900,000 bond to secure his bail in 2019. 

The court had heard how Petrov had previously abused his estranged wife Cindy Crossthwaite (pictured) before he murdered her at her Melton South home on June 20, 2007

The cold case investigation led Victoria Police to announce a $1 million reward in October 2017 to find Ms Crossthwaite’s killer.

However, even after Petrov’s arrest, the court matter experienced significant delays. 

But as a jury forewoman told the court they had found him guilty of murder on Wednesday, Petrov’s face turned red and he shook his head.

His girlfriend leaned over the court dock and gave him a kiss, before he was led out of court by custody officers to be taken to prison.

Ms Crossthwaite, 41, was found dead by her father in the lounge room of her home with blood splatters covering blinds and windows.

She had been choked and shot in the head at close range, from about 15 centimetres away, the jury was told.

Weeks before her murder, she was enduring a bitter court battle with Petrov over how they would divide their assets.

The case was adjourned to allow Petrov to find a lawyer, but the mother-of-three would not make it to the next hearing. 

Cindy Crossthwaite, 41, (pictured) was found dead by her father in the lounge room of her home with blood splatters covering blinds and windows

Witness Brian O’Shea (pictured) avoided a murder charge by testifying against Petrov about providing him with a gun for $3000

Prosecutors said Petrov was fuelled by a ‘deep-seated hatred’ for Ms Crossthwaite amidst the court battle as they presented the jury with a circumstantial case to prove his guilt.

The estranged couple were facing Family Court hearings in May 2007 as they tried to divide up their assets, with Petrov arguing for several properties to be excluded as he claimed they were owned by his parents.

Prosecutor Mark Gibson said Petrov knew both his and his parents’ financial interests would be adversely affected when the court proceedings were due to resume, so he murdered Ms Crossthwaite before the case returned.

Central to the trial was witness Brian O’Shea, who avoided a murder charge by testifying against Petrov about providing him with a gun for $3000.

In the months before the killing, Petrov showed Mr O’Shea a black wig and dark-coloured clothing inside his car boot.

‘I’m going to kill that c*** Cindy. I’m going to take a week off work. I’m going to kill her,’ Mr O’Shea said Petrov told him.

Cindy Crossthwaite’s family said the guilty verdict was ‘better than winning lotto’

Twelve jurors returned their guilty verdict against Petrov just after midday on Wednesday, more than a week after beginning deliberations.

Petrov will return to the court for a pre-sentence hearing on March 21. 

Ms Crossthwaite’s family hugged and wiped away tears as the verdict was handed down.

‘It’s been a long-time coming and we’re just so happy she gets justice,’ Ms Jones told reporters outside the court.

‘And the children, what it did to them and the family, just terribly terrible sad.’

Ms Jones said hearing the murder verdict being handed down was a feeling of ‘just wow’.

‘It’s better than winning lotto, it’s just unbelievable, I can’t even explain it,’ Ms Jones said.