Published Friday, 29 January 2010
Lillis denied killing Celine Cawley just over a year ago at their luxury north Dublin home.
But after three days of deliberations a jury at Dublin's Central Criminal Court found the 52-year-old guilty by a majority.
The jury returned a 10-2 manslaughter verdict on Friday night saying the state had failed to prove intent, ruling out a murder verdict.
They had deliberated for nine and a half hours since retiring on Wednesday afternoon.
Lillis didn't flinch and sat impassively as the verdict was handed down, leaning to one side and staring into the distance.
Ms Cawley's immediate family - father James, brother Chris and sister Susanna - sat quietly in the back row of the packed, but hushed, courtroom.
A successful media executive, 46-year-old Ms Cawley was killed at the back of her home in the exclusive Howth area of north Dublin ten days before Christmas 2008.
As explosive revelations emerged during the trial, it was revealed the 52-year-old television producer was having an affair with a masseuse.
At Dublin's Central Criminal Court, an emotional and softly spoken Lillis, recounted how he and Celine had a violent fight on the morning of December 15.
Lillis initially blamed the bloody killing on an intruder, detailing to gardai how he stumbled upon his wife wrestling with a burglar.
He later retracted the statement, claiming it had been made to protect his teenage daughter from the row he had with his wife.
Trial judge Mr Justice Barry White remanded Lillis on bail until Thursday for sentencing.
He was ordered to sign on twice daily at a garda station.