Man found dead day before verdict over alleged 2012 murder of lover

James Church has been found dead the day before a verdict was due to be handed down over the alleged murder of his ex-lover a decade ago.

Church was charged in 2018 with allegedly murdering his 23-year-old ex-lover Leisl Smith in 2012, whose body has never been found.

Smith's car was found abandoned at Tuggerah railway station, on the NSW Central Coast, more than a month after she vanished from her nearby Wallarah home.

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Church denied murdering Smith.

After a lengthy murder trial in the NSW Supreme Court, Justice Elizabeth Fullerton due to deliver her verdict today.

The 51-year-old's body was discovered at a property near Bingara.

The court heard Church took his own life.

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Fullerton told Smith's family she can not hand down the verdict as planned because the accused had died.

"The law simply does not allow me to return a verdict," Fullerton said.

She acknowledged that will be difficult to accept.

Crisis support is available from Lifeline on 13 11 14.