Winz Shootings: Russell John Tully Found Guilty Of Murder

Russell John Tully has been found guilty of murdering two Ashburton Work and Income workers.

A jury took less than six hours to establish that 49-year-old Tully was the masked gunman who stormed the Ashburton Winz centre on September 1, 2014 and shot dead receptionist Peggy Noble, 67, and case manager Susan Leigh Cleveland, 55.

He was also found guilty of attempting to murder case manager Kim Adams.

However, he has been found not guilty of attempting to murder case manager Lindy Curtis.

Tully, stood in the dock and surrounded by prison guards, made no reaction to the verdicts when the jury delivered its conclusions.

There were quiet gasps of relief from the packed public gallery when the first guilty verdict was read out.

Tully had denied murdering Ms Noble and Ms Cleveland, along with charges of attempting to murder Ms Curtis and Ms Adams and other charges that include two counts of unlawful possession of firearms, and one of setting a man trap.

For more on this story, visit nzherald.co.nz