The family of a young manslaughter victim has pleaded with his killer to reveal where he has hidden the body.

Jonathan Dolton, who was killed in 2002Father-of-two Stuart Martin was yesterday cleared of murdering computer expert Jonathan Dolton, but convicted of his manslaughter.

In a statement after the verdict, Jonathan's mother Sheila urged Martin -- who went to Australia after her son's disappearance more than two years ago -- to tell them where the body is.

"We have sent a letter to Stuart Martin in which we pleaded with him to show us some kindness, plead guilty and free himself to tell us where Jonathan's body is," she said.

"We would rather he serve his sentence with this off his conscience. Perhaps we could have Jonathan home and so be left to finish our grieving in peace."

Martin, of Althorpe Crescent, Milton Keynes, was cleared of murder, but a jury of seven women and five men at Reading Crown Court took 10 hours and 26 minutes to convict him of manslaughter by a majority of 11 to 1.

He was remanded in custody to be sentenced on January 19.

The 42-year-old fled the country the same day that Jonathan, his former tenant and business partner, went missing from his bachelor pad home. Mr Dolton was last seen after arriving at Martin's house in Stony Stratford, Bucks, from a friend's house on Sunday, February 24, 2002.

His terraced cottage was found with the lights, a television and laptop still on.

Martin was arrested by British police in June this year in Melbourne, Australia, more than two years after Mr Dolton's dis- appearance.

At Reading Crown Court yesterday, Mr Justice Silber told Martin that the fact that a body has not been found was a "serious aggravating factor".

"You have been convicted of manslaughter, which is a very serious offence and you can expect a very substantial sentence," he said.

"I find a serious aggravating factor in this case that the body of Jonathan Dolton has never been found, 33 months after his death."

During the three-week trial, two witnesses said they had heard Martin confessing to the killing.

The jury heard that Martin had taken Jonathan into his home as a teenager, when he had not been getting on with his parents.

Richard Latham QC, prosecuting, said Martin's "exceptionally fond" feelings towards the youngster turned possessive, controlling and bullying.

Rebecca Poulet QC, defending, said it was possible someone else was responsible for Mr Dolton's death.

"There are unquestionably other possible, potential persons who might have wished Jonathan dead," she said.

The Thames Valley police officer in charge of the investigation, Det Supt Steve Morrison, welcomed the verdict.

He said:"Throughout this investigation we have been interested in not just bringing the offender to justice, but also finding Jonathan's body.

"I know that both Sheila and Alan Dolton and the rest of Jonathan's family do not feel that this is the end of the matter, and desperately need to know the full facts of what happened to him, and where his body is."

Supt Morrison added: "I really do hope that Stuart Martin considers the feelings of Jonathan's family and friends and tells us where his body is so his family can finally lay him to rest."