Sister of murdered Rita Caleo tells court she feared she was next

The sister of a woman murdered almost three decades ago, has spoken of her fear that she would be next.

Angelina Chye told the Supreme Court she didn't attend the funeral out of fear, instead "I sat crying in my room, grieving".

Rita Caleo was stabbed to death in her Double Bay home in 1990 in a hit which was ordered by her husband, the successful restaurateur Mark Caleo.

Less than a year earlier her brother Dr Michael Chye was shot dead outside his Woollahra home.

Caleo was acquitted over Dr Chye's killing but found guilty by a jury of soliciting his wife's death and today faced a sentence hearing.

His sister-in-law telling the court of his "materialistic greed and psychotic self-preservation" which had robbed them of so much.

"My family and I have been living ... for the last 30 years in pain, anger and helplessness. Now my family has freedom", she said.

Her brother David Chye told the court it has had a devastating impact.

"Although we had our suspicions, we felt powerless to do anything to bring her killers to justice."

Another relative who was a child at the time and can't be identified, wiped away tears as she described him as a selfish man who had stolen her life as well.

"It's a lifetime crime that affected countless people and continues to do so."

Caleo chose not to look at any of those who delivered statements in court, instead staring at the floor.

Crown Prosecutor Margaret Cunneen SC submitted that he "treated the life of Rita Caleo as being of no value at all, and something of which he could simply dispose when he thought it was in his way".

He faces a maximum of 20 years behind bars; the hitman Alani Afu faces life.

Both will be sentenced later this month.