GUILTY Canada - Taliyah Marsman, 5, & Sara Baillie, 34, Calgary, 11 July 2016 #2

[MistyWaters]

Sounds like a good candidate for consecutive sentencing.

I agree. Much like triple convicted murderer Saretzky was given 75 years for the 3 Crossnest Pass murders involving a father and his young daughter, Downey had absolutely no reason to (allegedly) coldly murder the innocent child other than to eliminate a witness.

 

[otto]

I agree. Much like triple convicted murderer Saretzky was given 75 years for the 3 Crossnest Pass murders involving a father and his young daughter, Downey had absolutely no reason to (allegedly) coldly murder the innocent child other than to eliminate a witness.

In that case, I thought that the child was the target, that Saretzky wanted to hurt her mother and the father was killed because he stood between Saretzky and the child.

In the Liknes murders, Nathan O'Brien was a victim by chance. I think Sara was the target, her daughter was in the way. Downey stupidly thought that he had committed the perfect murder and that the only loose end was Taliyah.

Have any of his gang buddies from Nova Scotia, or where ever he originates, come forward since he did this? Are they still preying on women like he did?

 

[deugirtni]

When I first read about the accused's prints being on the duct-tape found on the victim.. I thought.. ok, well, that's bad.. but.. what if he'd at one time held the duct-tape? But then when I read the prints were taken from the STICKY side, wow. Why even go to the expense of a trial? He is DONE based on that alone.

 

[MistyWaters]

Today ends the second week of this trial. It’s scheduied for 3 weeks.

Testimony at Downey murder trial focuses on retrieval of digital data
“The jury was shown a short, selfie video of Taliyah Marsman from July 10, 2016 showing her loose tooth.

The video was taken the day before she went missing and family members wept openly in the courtroom as the footage was played.

Saleznov said that the last activity on the tablet was from July 11 at 10:19 a.m., which is the same day that Baillie was found dead.

He also examined an unlocked, Samsung cellphone and said that it had no texts, calls or communication on it and that he was unable to determine if it was brand new or had been restored to factory settings...”

 

[MistyWaters]

In that case, I thought that the child was the target, that Saretzky wanted to hurt her mother and the father was killed because he stood between Saretzky and the child.

In the Liknes murders, Nathan O'Brien was a victim by chance. I think Sara was the target, her daughter was in the way. Downey stupidly thought that he had committed the perfect murder and that the only loose end was Taliyah.

Have any of his gang buddies from Nova Scotia, or where ever he originates, come forward since he did this? Are they still preying on women like he did?

You’re right, Downey’s circle of cohearts warrants a close look at. Birds of a feather....

 

[MistyWaters]

When I first read about the accused's prints being on the duct-tape found on the victim.. I thought.. ok, well, that's bad.. but.. what if he'd at one time held the duct-tape? But then when I read the prints were taken from the STICKY side, wow. Why even go to the expense of a trial? He is DONE based on that alone.

Although I haven’t looked for proof, I’d bet Downey is represented by a lawyer appointed through Legal Aid. He wasn’t able to lure any women to pay his way, he’s probably destitute.

And I agree, the evidence seems overwhelming. I suppose it’s possible he attempted to plea to reduced charges but due to the callous and cruel nature of the intentional murders of both victims, the prosecution nixed it. If so, I’m on their side. Regardless of the cost, he deserves nothing less than 50 years. IMO.

 

[Satchie]

I am surprised this trial is not getting more attention, it doesn’t seem like the reporters are even there all day some days. I believe it was mentioned either in the opening statement or by the initial responding officer that testified, Sara had been badly beaten before being asphyxiated but I can’t find a link. Meg Grant of CBC tweeted that jurors have been forewarned there will be autopsy photos shown in court on Monday. (Twitter)
The poor families

I haven't been following the trial, interesting to ask myself why. I think it's because there's no mystery to it at all, so it just feels sordid to me to learn the details. For example, with the Liknes case, there was a lot more mysterious details that slowly came out: the disappearance, the truck, the patent, the involvement of the extended family, his elderly parents, Garland's life, the timing, the farm.

This guy just comes across as having been depraved before, during and after these murders, so the motive isn't a puzzle, and the method seems like simple brutality mixed with stupidity. Police did an excellent and fairly straightforward job to solve it. I certainly hope he's locked up for the rest of his life, but I'll let the professionals go ahead and take care of that.

 

[MistyWaters]

I haven't been following the trial, interesting to ask myself why. I think it's because there's no mystery to it at all, so it just feels sordid to me to learn the details. For example, with the Liknes case, there was a lot more mysterious details that slowly came out: the disappearance, the truck, the patent, the involvement of the extended family, his elderly parents, Garland's life, the timing, the farm.

This guy just comes across as having been depraved before, during and after these murders, so the motive isn't a puzzle, and the method seems like simple brutality mixed with stupidity. Police did an excellent and fairly straightforward job to solve it. I certainly hope he's locked up for the rest of his life, but I'll let the professionals go ahead and take care of that.

You’re right, in the Garland trial there was a lot of evidence that was never before reported by the media.

However in this trial, what’s interesting, the prosecution’s theory is very much different than conclusions drawn from early news reports because it involves a third party, AB. They allege Sara put a wedge between her friend, AB and Downey, to support her and protect her because Downey was intending to introduce his girlfriend (AB) into the escort business.

“....Prosecutor Carla MacPhail said in her opening statement that Baillie was close friends with Downey's girlfriend, who can only be identified as A.B. because of a publication ban.

MacPhail told the jury Baillie had seen Downey strike his girlfriend in the face. He also blamed Baillie for A.B. breaking up with him and his girlfriend declining work for him as an escort, she said.

MacPhail said the girlfriend paid the bills and provided a home and a vehicle.”
Man killed Calgary woman, daughter because girlfriend broke up with him: Crown

But back in 2016 and significantly discussed on WS threads, speculation over the motive for murder was based on this media report, and then that Sara had a direct relationship with Downey and was possibly an escort working for him. So far in the trial proceedings, there’s absolutely nothing to indicate that is true in the slightest.
Robyn Urback: Sara Baillie’s ‘second job’ as an escort makes her and Taliyah’s story more tragic, not less

 

[Satchie]

You’re right, in the Garland trial there was a lot of evidence that was never before reported by the media.

However in this trial, what’s interesting, the prosecution’s theory is very much different than conclusions drawn from early news reports because it involves a third party, AB. They allege Sara put a wedge between her friend, AB and Downey, to support her and protect her because Downey was intending to introduce his girlfriend (AB) into the escort business.

“....Prosecutor Carla MacPhail said in her opening statement that Baillie was close friends with Downey's girlfriend, who can only be identified as A.B. because of a publication ban.

MacPhail told the jury Baillie had seen Downey strike his girlfriend in the face. He also blamed Baillie for A.B. breaking up with him and his girlfriend declining work for him as an escort, she said.

MacPhail said the girlfriend paid the bills and provided a home and a vehicle.”
Man killed Calgary woman, daughter because girlfriend broke up with him: Crown

But back in 2016 and significantly discussed on WS threads, speculation over the motive for murder was based on this media report, and then that Sara had a direct relationship with Downey and was possibly an escort working for him. So far in the trial proceedings, there’s absolutely nothing to indicate that is true in the slightest.
Robyn Urback: Sara Baillie’s ‘second job’ as an escort makes her and Taliyah’s story more tragic, not less

Yes, AB is very fortunate, in these types of cases the victim is almost always the former girlfriend.

 

[PrincessButtercup]

Although I haven’t looked for proof, I’d bet Downey is represented by a lawyer appointed through Legal Aid. He wasn’t able to lure any women to pay his way, he’s probably destitute.

And I agree, the evidence seems overwhelming. I suppose it’s possible he attempted to plea to reduced charges but due to the callous and cruel nature of the intentional murders of both victims, the prosecution nixed it. If so, I’m on their side. Regardless of the cost, he deserves nothing less than 50 years. IMO.

He's not being paid by legal aid

 

[deugirtni]

He's not being paid by legal aid

Do you have a link for that? As far as I have understood the accused's position, he was unemployed other than living off of the avails of whomever he could get to provide escort services, and being supported by his girlfriend AB. How might someone like that afford to pay for his own legal counsel in a double murder trial? Just curious.

 

[MistyWaters]

Trial proceedings have moved onward to focus on text messages on Downey’s cellphone. It’s indicated there were a total of 201 text messages sent or received on July 11th, the day it was believed the murders occurred. Court also hears Sara’s cellphone had been wiped clean, possibly on July 13th (the same day Downey was arrested by LE at a strip mall).

“On Monday, Whiffen read BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) messages from Downey’s phone. The Crown alleges Downey was expressing his view of Baillie’s influence on his girlfriend.

The messages appeared to be between Downey and someone named “Jiggy” as well as Downey and “Kukuie.”

In one message, Downey told Kukuie, “I’m down to one and she’s square.”

The Crown alleges Downey had taken steps towards getting his girlfriend to work as an escort but she had decided “it was something she was not going to do.”

“It’s for you to decide if Downey blamed Sara for this as well,” prosecutor Carla MacPhail told the jury in her opening statement.....”
Conversations extracted from accused double-murderer’s phone detailed in Calgary trial | Globalnews.ca

 

[MistyWaters]

Do you have a link for that? As far as I have understood the accused's position, he was unemployed other than living off of the avails of whomever he could get to provide escort services, and being supported by his girlfriend AB. How might someone like that afford to pay for his own legal counsel in a double murder trial? Just curious.

I’d also be quite surprised if Downey is paying his lawyer’s tab considering his alleged source of income. I don’t think legal fee funding through Legal Aid is publicly discosed. His lawyer was registered with the Alberta Law Society in 2013, the son mentored by his father who’s also named as co-council. If not Legal Aid, representing a defendant in a double homicide trial for this relatively young lawyer certainly serves a purpose in gaining additional legal experience.
Gavin Wolch l Wolch Watts Wilson & Jugnauth

 

[MistyWaters]

Defence to call evidence in Edward Downey double-murder case, jurors told
“That completes the evidence in the Crown’s case,” MacPhail told Justice Beth Hughes, after crime-scenes Const. Chad Prescesky finished testifying.

Hughes then turned the floor over to Wolch.

“The defence election is that we will be calling evidence, the jury will hear from us,” he said, before asking that the trial be adjourned to Wednesday morning for that purpose.

Wolch did not tell jurors how many witnesses he intends to call, nor whether the accused will be among them.

But he told Hughes he will be making an opening address before calling any evidence on behalf of the defence....”

 

[deugirtni]

Defence to call evidence in Edward Downey double-murder case, jurors told
“That completes the evidence in the Crown’s case,” MacPhail told Justice Beth Hughes, after crime-scenes Const. Chad Prescesky finished testifying.

Hughes then turned the floor over to Wolch.

“The defence election is that we will be calling evidence, the jury will hear from us,” he said, before asking that the trial be adjourned to Wednesday morning for that purpose.

Wolch did not tell jurors how many witnesses he intends to call, nor whether the accused will be among them.

But he told Hughes he will be making an opening address before calling any evidence on behalf of the defence....”

That is fairly unusual.. unless he just figured he had little to lose by doing so. Should be interesting.

 

[otto]

Any thoughts on why Downey is testifying? He seems determined to make the point that he paid some bills by selling cocaine, but that has nothing to do with murdering a young woman and her daughter.

It almost seems like he's trying to establish a reputation for his prison time.

 

[otto]

"Edward Downey's lawyer says his client did go to Sara Baillie's home the morning she was killed but "he did not arrive alone," and when he left, the victim's five-year-old girl was still alive."

Edward Downey 'did not arrive alone' at victim's home on day of the killings: defence | CBC News

 

[MistyWaters]

"Edward Downey's lawyer says his client did go to Sara Baillie's home the morning she was killed but "he did not arrive alone," and when he left, the victim's five-year-old girl was still alive."

Edward Downey 'did not arrive alone' at victim's home on day of the killings: defence | CBC News

No mention of Sara. His testimony ought to be interesting but at this point, if I were a juror, I doubt I’d believe anything he said if that’s the best the defence has to offer.

 

[otto]

He's telling his life story starting in 2006. What a waste of time.
Beth might want to step in and ask about relevance.

 

[MistyWaters]

So the Court already knows Downey has prior charges of drug dealing and prostitution and still is involved with cocaine dealers but we’re to believe he seemingly appears out of nowhere one night when his girlfriend is out on the town, then he slugs her in the face to prevent her from drunk driving? Whatever happened to just taking away the keys or threatening to call police?


Meghan Grant
Meghan Grant (@CBCMeg) on Twitter


41m

Wolch now asking about incident outside a nightclub. AB earlier testified #Downey was angry she was out partying with Sara Baillie. AB said he punched her in face. Downey said he was angry she was drunk and trying to drive. Says he reached in car: "I smacked her," he said.