Two Malaysian men were found guilty of the brutal slaying of an Australian businessman but escaped the hangman's noose after charges were reduced to manslaughter, reports said today.

"The court comes to the finding that the both of you had gone into the house with the common intention to cause injury to the deceased," Judge KN Segara was quoted as saying by the Star daily.

"However, the prosecution has not successfully proven beyond reasonable doubt the intention was to commit murder," he said.

The two men, Low Kian Boon, 20 and a 19-year-old whose name was withheld by the court, were charged with murdering Hans Herzog three years ago.

Herzog's two teenage step-daughters, then aged 14 and 16, were also originally charged with the killing. Low was the boyfriend of the younger girl.

Murdered on Nov 12, 2003

The two Malaysian sisters were acquitted in February when Segara ruled there was no evidence to show they planned or participated in the crime.

Segara fixed April 25 for sentencing. Both men now face up to 10 years in jail or a fine or both.

On November 12, 2003, the 59-year-old victim was found in a pool of blood with slash wounds on his body in the home he shared with his Malaysian wife of three years.

According to reports, the sisters had sought escape from their home due to alleged abuse by the deceased, and that Low had previously tried to arrange for someone to beat up Herzog.