Sydney - An Australian beekeeper found shot dead at his isolated property where he lived alone was killed for his honey, a Brisbane court was told Wednesday.

Donald Alcock, 34, was found guilty of murdering 41-year-old Tony Knight by shooting him in the back while he slept.

"If Tony was home I was going to have to maim him or hurt him bad if I was going to knock off the honey," Alcock told police. "I was only out to hurt him, I wasn't out to kill him."

Alcock had admitted to stealing barrels of honey worth 40,000 Australian dollars (33,000 US dollars) but had pleaded not guilty to murder.

Beekeeper Howard Kirby said it was normal in the industry to hoard honey. "Honey doesn't go off like apples, and beekeepers keep barrels as security - like money in the bank," Kirby explained. (dpa)