The teenager showed no emotion as he was found guilty in the High Court at Whangarei today by a majority verdict of 11-1 after nearly 10 hours of deliberations over two days.
Justice Raynor Asher continued suppression of the 16-year-old boy's name until midday tomorrow so family overseas could be told. He remanded the boy in custody until sentencing on March 26.
The boy was also found guilty in a unanimous verdict of indecently assaulting 15-year-old Liberty who was found dead face down in Wairoa Stream in Kerikeri November 2008.
At the time the accused was 14 years-old.
The jury of six men and six women reached its verdicts this evening and were thanked by Justice Asher for their endeavours.
The parents of Liberty, Andrew and Rebecca Templeman, and her 13-year-old son were in the courtroom to hear the verdicts, as were a number of the youth's family, later seen in tears in the foyer of the courthouse.
Andrew Templeman made a tearful statement about the outcome of the trial.
He expressed relief at the result, but said that it did not bring back his daughter.
"Libby gave us so much...we will somehow rebuild and help our son who has shown a tremendous amount of character and courage,'' he said.
He thanked everyone for their support.
After nearly eight hours of deliberation, the jury this afternoon had indicated they could not reach a unanimous verdict.
Justice Asher advised them on an 11-1 majority verdict and said he was reluctant to discharge them at that point.
The jurors had earlier heard a plea from the defence for a finding of manslaughter while the Crown called for a murder conviction.
Defence lawyer Catherine Cull said the actions of the accused were those of a scared boy.
The Crown contended he was a calculating and callous killer.
Crown counsel Michael Smith said the crime was a calculated killing to stop Libby complaining to the police after she was assaulted.
On the day she died, Libby met friends at an impromptu barbeque at which the accused was present.
As it broke up about 6.30pm, Liberty set off to meet her boyfriend at a local supermarket, but never arrived.
The Crown said she was beaten unconscious, strangled and dragged down to the banks of the stream, where she was left to die by the accused.
