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

[MistyWaters]

That was it, defence has rested, Downey was the only defence witness.

Tweets below from Meghan Grant (@CBCMeg) on Twitter
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That's it for the day. Back Monday for closing arguments in #Downey trial.

Jurors told closing arguments will take place Monday. Jurors will receive final instructions on how to apply the law to their deliberations on Wednesday. They'll be sequestered Wednesday to deliberate until a verdict is reached. #Downey

Wolch will not be calling any other witnesses. That is the end of evidence from Crown and defence. Judge and lawyers to deal w/ timing issues for closing arguments and jury instructions. Jurors out of room again #Downey

Jury out of the room after a question about the bag of cocaine produced by Terrance in furnace room of Baillie's home. #Downey

#Downey says he had two or three cell phones at the time.

#Downey tells his lawyer that although he was facing financial difficulties in 2016 and there were threats his Mercedes would be repossessed, it never was.

 

[MistyWaters]

I'm quite surprised the Crown didn't ask more probing questions. Like why did this stranger go into Sara's room and argue? What led them to do that?

I hope we have a smart jury here. The Crown wasn't very aggressive.

Going by the condensed tweets, often when he was asked for specifics, it seems his reply was either he didn’t know or he sidestepped. If this is correct “they seemed to be arguing”. If he were asked how it seemed, perhaps that’s when he mentioned shouting. If he were asked what they were shouting about, his response might’ve been he didn’t know. I’d hope the prosecution has done a good job illustrating his lack of specific details considering he spent two days on the witness stand and we only have learned of brief highlights. IMO it’s his lack of details that expose his lies, such as why he’d unquestionably give this mystery person duct tape, then later avoid checking on Sara’s well-being or act like nothing was amiss when AB became concerned about her whereabouts. JMO

“He said Baillie and Terrance seemed to be arguing with each other in her bedroom, but he's not sure about what. Taliyah was alive and well in her own bedroom at the time, court heard.”
Outburst in court as accused in double murder testifies he didn't do it | The Chronicle Herald

 

[MistyWaters]

He's basically saying that Sara was a drug dealer and that she had kilos of drugs at her house. He went to her house to buy drugs but left his money at home. At the same time he was so broke that he was asking people for gas money. He used his imaginary friend's car to drive to his house to get money because he wanted to listen to his friend's stereo. Downey and his imaginary friend then agreed to meet at a specific location in the NE but because he couldn't follow them to that location, he ended up East of the city.

He must have a lot of very stupid people in his life if he expects anyone to believe his bizarre story, but you never know about the jury.

Okay, thanks for the summary! So he chose to add checking out Terrance’s “stash spot” to account for why he was driving east of the city, even though we’re to believe he had no phone contact listing with the mysterious Terrance who brought 4 kilos to Sara’s house. Yes I agree, he must’ve had a lot of stupid people in his life if these sorts of stories make any sense. It’s a disturbing thought to imagine the young people who slide down the slippery slope into illegal drug addiction are being supplied by people like this.

“Downey says that when he returned to Baillie's, Terrance and his friend were outside. They exchanged keys and arranged to meet up at 52nd Street and 16th Avenue N.E.

On the way there, Downey says he lost track of Terrance. Downey said he kept driving east thinking he might check out Terrance's "stash spot" for drugs but then changed his mind and turned around to pick up his girlfriend from work instead.”
Edward Downey pins murders of Calgary woman and her daughter on two other men | CBC News

 

[JerseyGirl]

Court to hear closing arguments at Downey double murder trial

 

[dogmatica]

Wolch did a good job with the distraction and smoke and mirrors. I gotta say, I'm nervous about the outcome of this one.

 

[dogmatica]

Pretty solid close by the Crown. Not much flash needed - just bring the jurors back to reality from the fantasy land Wolch and Downey created.

 

[MsMarple]

A jury deciding the fate of a man accused of killing a mother and her daughter is being urged not to jump to conclusions as the double-murder trial winds down in Calgary.
...
But he says Downey was not responsible and the jury must presume that his client is innocent.

Jury urged not to jump to conclusions on man accused of killing woman, daughter | CBC News

IMO there won't be an issue of the jury "jumping to conclusions." The abundant evidence all points to his guilt. What are they to make of the fingerprints on the inside of the duct tape, the cell phone pings and the two invisible friends that Downey did not have in his contacts or in any texts?

The evidence says he lied on the stand and had an answer for everything but could not back up his claims. Hopefully the jury will see through his charade and understand his crime for exactly what it was - cold-blooded murder. MOO.

 

[MistyWaters]

“....“No one is defending the horrible things that happened to Ms. Baillie and Ms. Marsman,” Wolch told the jury. “Those things were not caused by Mr. Downey.”

When Wolch told jurors there are several reasons to acquit Downey, there was a comment from a man in the gallery.

“There is none,” he said....”
Jurors hear closing arguments in trial of Edward Downey, accused of killing Calgary mother, daughter

 

[MsMarple]

Cell phone pings:
Edward Downey's cell phone activity on July 11, 2016

 

[MistyWaters]

“The evidence in this case is not just compelling, it is overwhelming and proves beyond doubt that Mr. Downey committed first-degree murder of Sara Baillie and first-degree murder of Taliyah Marsman,” MacPhail said.

“Mr. Downey’s evidence is not reasonable. In fact, it is patently absurd involving a number of far-fetched coincidences and a sequence of events which makes no sense.”...

....Jurors will receive final legal instructions from Justice Beth Hughes Wednesday before beginning deliberations.....”
Prosecutor urges jury to reject Edward Downey’s ‘absurd’ murder defence

 

[MistyWaters]

This is something I hadn’t noticed mentioned, that Sara was dressed in her workplace uniform when her body was found. And she’d cancelled a tanning appointment but as she hadn’t called her employer, that’s compelling evidence that she was planning to go to work that morning. Meanwhile Downey, the admitted cocaine dealer, testified the mystery-man Terrance happened to drop by to use her home as a “stash spot” for $200,000 in cocaine. Unbelievable IMO. As a waitress Sara probably wouldn’t have earned $200k in 5 years.

“.....Ms. MacPhail said it was an unremarkable start to the day for the mother and daughter – aside from the pair running late for work and daycare, respectively.

“But then something happened,” she said. “Something happened and they never made it out of their residence.”......

....Both mother and daughter were alive and well at 9:04 a.m., when Ms. Baillie texted to cancel a tanning appointment, Ms. MacPhail told jurors.

She said the Crown believes Ms. Baillie, dressed in her uniform for her waitress job, and her daughter were on their way out of their basement apartment when they were intercepted by an “unexpected and unwelcome” Mr. Downey....”
Diverging accounts at trial for accused in deaths of Calgary mother, daughter

“..But among the “far-fetched coincidences” MacPhail suggested Downey claimed was the relationship between Terrance and Baillie, who just happened to be the accused killer’s girlfriend’s best friend, and his testimony the deceased’s home was the “stash spot” for $200,000 in cocaine.“
Prosecutor urges jury to reject Edward Downey’s ‘absurd’ murder defence

 

[MistyWaters]

Nancy Hixt, Global Calgary, just now reporting Judge’s instructions to jurors. Once she’s finished, deliberation begins.

Nancy Hixt (@NancyHixt) on Twitter

 

[MistyWaters]

Same link as above -

Jurors told options for verdicts count #2: #Downey a-Guilty of the first-degree murder of Taliyah Marsman b-not guilty of the first-degree murder of Taliyah Marsman but guilty of second degree murder of Taliyah Marsman c-Not guilty

Jury told options for verdicts count #1 #Downey a-Guilty of the 1st degree murder of Sara Baillie b-not guilty of 1st degree murder of Sara Baillie but guilty of 2nd degree murder c-guilty of 2nd degree murder of Sara Baillie but guilty of manslaughter D-not guilty

 

[MistyWaters]

Nancy Hixt (@NancyHixt) on Twitter
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Jury told they can eat then will begin deliberating #Downey
46m
Hughes: Once you retire to consider your verdict, the law requires that you be kept separate and apart until you reach a verdict. After that, you will be free to leave the courthouse and return to your home.

 

[otto]

Cell phone pings:
Edward Downey's cell phone activity on July 11, 2016

That's fantastic! That's exactly what I mentioned last week - that the crown needed to provide the jury with a visual of cell phone location and times throughout the day. I think that should do it for the jury.

 

[MistyWaters]

Wow! It’s 4pm here now, this was fast! That includes having lunch.

Nancy Hixt (@NancyHixt) on Twitter
Jury told they could start deliberating at approx 1:20pm...gave notice they have a verdict in less than three hours #Downey

·
1m

Usually there is about 15 min before jury comes back once they've reached a verdict-- time for everyone to get back to the courtroom #Downey

5m

Just received notice there is a verdict in the #Downey case. Watch here for updates

 

[MistyWaters]

Postmedia -
Kevin Martin (@KMartinCourts) on Twitter
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#Downey now being brought into courtroom.

Five sheriffs now in courtroom to make sure there are no inappropriate outbursts when verdicts read. #Downey

Many family and supporters of Baillie and Taliyah jammed into courtroom. #Downey

#Downey has not yet been brought into the courtroom to hear his fate.

Jury about to render verdict in the Edward Downey double murder trial. He’s charged with killing Sara Baillie and her five year old daughter Taliyah Marsman. #Downey

 

[MistyWaters]

YES, justice for Sara and Taliyah! May this speedy decision by the jury provide some level of peace to the family, in knowing Downey is held responsible for his despicable actions.

******

Kevin Martin (@KMartinCourts) on Twitter

Supporters of Baillie and Taliyah openly wept as #Downey convicted of two counts of first-degree murder. “Thank the Lord,” says one.

Verdict on count one first-degree murder of Baillie: guilty. #Downey

Crowd bursts into tears as #Downey convicted of first_degree murder of Taliyah

ETA More:

Justice Hughes thanks jurors for their work. Gallery erupts in loud cheers as they exit the courtroom. #Downey

11 of 12 jurors recommended consecutive parole ineligibilities. One made no recommendation. #Downey

 

[otto]

That is excellent news! That's the verdict he deserved.

 

[dogmatica]

Edward Downey guilty of first-degree murder in deaths of Sara Baillie, daughter Taliyah Marsman

What a heartbreaking speech. So much pain, that will never go away. My heart goes out to the family. Excellent work by the jury and prosecution, and especially the police.

Downey is a profoundly evil, cruel, and cowardly man. I'm sure an appeal is in short order. Let's hope for consecutive sentencing - I'm guessing that's what will be handed down.

Rot in your cell Downey, you despicable excuse of a human being.