An academic from the University of Adelaide has been found not guilty of murdering his scientist wife because of mental incompetence.
Serik Eliby, 54, was charged with murder after police found the body of 55-year-old Ainur Ismagul at their home at Klemzig in February last year.
In the Supreme Court on Thursday Justice Anne Bampton found the objective elements of the crime proved but ruled that Eliby was not guilty because he was mentally incompetent at the time.
She ordered he be held under supervision in a secure mental health facility for life.
Dr Ismagul worked alongside Eliby at the Australian Centre for Plant Functional Genomics, researching genetically modified crops.
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At the time of her death a University of Adelaide spokesperson said staff were shocked and saddened to lose one of their colleagues under terrible circumstances.
"Ainur was a respected and well-liked member of our research community at the Waite (campus) who will be greatly missed," she said.
In submissions on Thursday, prosecutor Christopher Edge said Eliby killed his wife by striking her multiple times.
He said establishing the elements of the crime the judge could rely on the admissions made to police at the scene, the fact that Eliby was alone when police arrived and that there were no signs of forced entry.
In determining Eliby's mental competence, Mr Edge said Justice Bampton could rely on expert reports, declarations and oral evidence presented to the court.
Eliby's case will return to court in March for the presentation of a report on his prognosis and proposed future treatment.
