Christopher Lavery says he was watching a Rambo film when his mate was murdered found later with a knife in his neck and his body and Jeep torched.
But a Melbourne jury on Friday decided that instead of sitting in a cinema, it was Lavery himself who killed James Russouw and robbed him of cash to help pay off a $19,000 gambling debt.
After deliberating for four days, the jury rejected Lavery’s claims he was watching a Rambo film at the time Mr Russouw was killed in 2008.
The pair had a history of selling cannabis up until Mr Russouw was found dead in his burning car at Burwood East Reserve.