Prosecutors have argued the murder was financially motivated, describing the romance writer as “on a path of financial ruin” at the time of her husband’s death.

They argued that Ms Crampton-Brophy would be the beneficiary of $1.4 million by cashing in on her husband’s various life insurance policies.

They told jurors Ms Crampton-Brophy had asked police for a letter to send to a life insurance company ruling her out as a suspect so she could collect $40,000 (£30,500).

Prosecutors also detailed Ms Crampton-Brophy’s online searches on ghost guns, which they said was her first step in plotting her husband’s murder.

Among the prosecution’s first witnesses were the staff and students who discovered Brophy lying dead in his classroom.  

The defence argued the online searches and her later firearms purchases formed part of her research for a novel she was planning about a woman in an abusive relationship.

The defence also argued that, while the couple were facing financial difficulties, Ms Crampton-Brophy’s finances deteriorated further after her husband’s death, disputing the prosecution’s claim she sought to profit from it.

Ms Crampton-Brophy broke the news of her husband’s murder to loved ones on social media, telling them: “My husband and best friend, Chef Dan Brophy was killed yesterday morning.”

She added: “For those of you who are close to me and feel this deserved a phone call, you are right, but I’m struggling to make sense of everything right now.”

A neighbour remarked to local news outlets that Ms Crampton-Brophy was taking her husband’s death well and kept busy.

“I said maybe some people can handle things better than others,” Don McConnell told KOIN-TV.

“Even after she said, ‘I’m a suspect’,” he said, “I just thought oh, yeah, well, they always suspect the opposite spouse.”