After three trials, an Auckland man has been found guilty of murdering his best friend in a jealous rage in 2009.

A jury found Salofa Aiono, 37, guilty of bashing Kapelielu Motunuu, known as Mose, to death after finding out he had slept with his wife, Fairfax reported.

During the trial Crown prosecutor Christine Gordon told the court that Aiono, Mrs Aiono and Mr Motunuu lived together briefly at the end of 2008.

When Aiono went to Samoa in early February 2009 his wife Tausilia and his best friend began texting each other and eventually had consensual sex.

On his return on February 24 Tausilia told her husband that Mr Motunuu had raped her but later admitted to him that the sex had been consensual.

That evening Aiono drove to Mr Motunuu's house, confronted him and bashed him with a rock. He then stomped on his chest and head with so much force that his shoe left an imprint on his friend's face.

Mr Motunuu was taken to hospital but died the next morning.

Aiono said he had not meant to kill Mr Motunuu, but said he had lost control when he confronted the man as he thought he had raped his wife. He denied Tausilia had told him the sex was consensual.

Aiono's first trial was aborted after just two weeks and the second resulted in a hung jury.