"A woman is dead, how is that not murder?"

First, he claimed he didn’t know anything about his wife’s disappearance and death.

Gerard Baden-Clay denied being involved.

He said the scratches on his face were shaving injuries, not defensive wounds.

But a jury found the 45-year-old  guilty of murdering his wife Allison.

On appeal, his lawyers argued he may have unintentionally killed the mother of his three daughters during an argument at their home in April 2012 and then dumped her body in a nearby river out of panic.

His defence argued the former real estate agent couldn’t be guilty of murder as he didn’t have the requisite intention to kill or seriously harm his wife.

Today the QLD Court of Appeal agreed and downgraded his murder conviction to manslaughter.

The decision has prompted anger and despair among the community, who see the result as a black mark at the end of a long dark year of domestic violence against women.

So #BadenClay changes his story after month on witness stand denying involvement in Alison’s death. Now says “unintentional death”…& wins.

— Lisa Wilkinson (@Lisa_Wilkinson) December 8, 2015

#BadenClay case raises serious issues: how can defendant deny all knowledge on trial under oath – then win appeal, conceding involvement? — Kristy Mayr (@KristyMayr7) December 8, 2015

Shocked and not a little disgusted at the #badenclay appeal result. A woman is dead – how is that not murder? #endviolenceagainstwomen

— Victoria Hannaford (@vhannaford) December 8, 2015

Gerard Baden-Clay spent five weeks at trial denying any involvement in wife’s death. Argues unintentional death at appeal. Wins. — Kate Kyriacou (@KateKyriacou) December 8, 2015

I hope Gerard #BadenClay‘s legal team and appeal judges are haunted by Allison’s face for the rest of their days.

— A M Y • W I L D E (@amywildeandfree) December 8, 2015

#BadenClay sets new precedent – totally okay to lie in a court of law during your murder trial. — A M Y • W I L D E (@amywildeandfree) December 8, 2015

#badenclay is the reason why women have no faith in the justice system. Murder is not manslaughter #endviolenceagainstwomen

— Rambutan Chutney (@SuDharmapala) December 8, 2015

Baffled by the basis for #badenclay appeal win. Can the prosecution take it higher? If he admits guilt, shouldn’t at best he get a retrial? — Juanita Phillips (@Juanita_Phillip) December 8, 2015

BREAKING – GERARD BADEN-CLAY MURDER CONVICTION DOWNGRADED TO “TRAVEL ON BUS WITHOUT VALID TICKET” #badenclay

— John Johnsonson (@JohnJohnsonson) December 8, 2015

And domestic violence victims and their advocates everywhere weep at that decision. #badenclay — Holly Byrnes (@byrnesh) December 8, 2015

I’ll never understand why you can argue one case at trial and another, totally different one, on appeal. #badenclay https://t.co/qsqbbUGH7D

— Sean Fewster (@SeanFewster) December 8, 2015

Absolute disgrace #BadenClay https://t.co/Jy6WJjIoaA — Adrian Gray (@_AdrianGray) December 8, 2015

How #badenclay can hypothesise an alternative scenario while still feigning innocence is beyond me. https://t.co/M9WDnYlQLS

— Denise Cullen (@CullenDenise) December 7, 2015

Another step forward for Australia’s domestic violence stance. #badenclay #fail — mathew willoughby (@Ausbooky) December 7, 2015

In the same week justice prevails re #Pistorius, they give DV victims the middle finger again. #BadenClay #endviolenceagainstwomen

— lydia_petze (@lydia_petze) December 7, 2015

If the conviction of #BadenClay for murder is ‘unreasonable’ – then it is reasonable to kill a women #endviolenceagainstwomen — Rambutan Chutney (@SuDharmapala) December 8, 2015

  It is not yet known whether the Court of Appeal decision will be appealed to the High Court. * Featured image via Twitter.