A woman has been cleared of murdering her elderly boyfriend who disappeared at his rural NSW property, with a judge finding her a person of good character.
Kylie So, 51, was acquitted on Friday in the NSW Supreme Court of the murder of Robert Dickie, 71, who vanished from his property in Elong Elong, near Dubbo, in June 2016.
"I find you not guilty," Justice Mark Ierace told So.
So, who is transgender, pleaded not guilty at a trial in Dubbo earlier this year.
In June 2016, she travelled from New Zealand to Mr Dickie's property, near Dubbo, at his invitation believing they were entering a long-term relationship.
He had previously engaged her as a sex worker.
At trial, defence lawyers for So argued Mr Dickie left her at the property saying he was going to a party and did not return.
Prosecutors had alleged Mr Dickie told So on the visit that she could not stay with him long-term, which enraged her and prompted a fatal assault.
In Friday's judgment, Justice Ierace found So's version of events credible and said it was possible others had killed Mr Dickie then disposed of his phone after a meeting with local "unsavoury elements".
The judge found it unlikely So could have disposed of Mr Dickie's body in the time available.
He described her as a "person of good character" not prone to "extreme violence".
On claims Mr Dickie's body was "devoured" by pigs on the property, Justice Ierace pointed to no signs of teeth or bones and said the animals roaming freely was not suspicious.
One of Mr Dickie's sons, Damien, previously said he thought "an evil person" had fed his father to his animals.
Regarding blood stains in the bedroom, Justice Ierace said he could not eliminate the possibility that they were unrelated to the disappearance, noting it was a room where Mr Dickie regularly entertained female guests.
Earlier, the court heard So and Mr Dickie corresponded in the months before he vanished, with Mr Dickie sending "loving and erotic" text messages including one that stated: "I love you my sweet baby and I need you here with me".
Before arriving in early June, So sent him pictures of her "revealing breasts" through gossamer clothing and said she had not been a prostitute for a long time.
The court was told Mr Dickie had a history of short relationships with vulnerable young women and sex workers, who he either paid in cash or helped access drugs.
Email records showed Mr Dickie corresponded with multiple women overseas, including in Thailand and Russia, inviting them to Australia and promising to marry and financially support them.
Justice Ierace said So arrived in Australia "with an expectation cultivated by Mr Dickie" that he was committing to a long-term relationship with her.
So was extradited from New Zealand and charged with Mr Dickie's murder in 2020.
