Michael Bamford, 51, killed Ivy Sutcliffe, 61, also known as Ivy Bamford, at their luxury home in Harare four years ago.

A jury of eight men and four women found him guilty of murder following a three-week trial at Manchester Crown Court.

Bamford, of Littleborough, Greater Manchester, married the wealthy widow three months before he killed her with a single shot to the head.

Trial Judge Mr Justice Openshaw told the jurors: "You have discharged your duty with conspicuous conscientiousness and, on behalf of the community, I am grateful to you for the way you have performed your duty."

Mrs Sutcliffe died at the couple's home in St Michael's Lane, Borrowdale, Harare, on August 2, 2004.

Bamford, a taxi driver, initially blamed robbers for murdering his wife, before changing his story and telling police she had committed suicide.

He told detectives his wife suffered from depression, and had attempted suicide several times in the past.

Alison Mutch, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said in a statement: "Michael Bamford's story was wholly untrue. The reality is that, having shot his wife, he placed the gun down by her side as part of a staged suicide by which he hoped to get away with the murder of his wife."

The case was adjourned, and sentencing is due to take place on Thursday morning.