Conviction stands for dad and stepmom
Supreme Court does not reduce charges for couple that killed six-year-old girl
After six years of pain and turmoil, the family of a young Calgary girl — brutally slain at the hands of her father and stepmother — say justice has finally been served.
Monday morning, the Supreme Court of Canada upheld the firstdegree murder convictions of Spencer Jordan and Marie Magoon, who were charged in the horrific Nov. 14, 2011 torture and beating death of six-year-old Meika Jordan, who was in their care.
Lawyers representing the couple requested the Supreme Court reverse a decision by the Alberta Court of Appeal, which upgraded Jordan and Magoon’s original second-degree murder convictions after ruling the little girl was confined before her death.
Moments after the ruling, Meika’s stepfather Brian Woodhouse said he was surprised the ninemember panel of judges arrived at a decision so quickly, and was relieved to finally see the painful legal odyssey come to a close.
“The Canadian justice system did us proud today and delivered justice for Meika,” said the stillemotional stepfather, who was in Ottawa with Meika’s mother Kyla Woodhouse for the hearing.
“It’s nice to know what we have been through for the last six years has not been in vain.”
Lawyers for Jordan and Magoon argued Alberta’s Court of Appeal erred in ruling Meika was confined before her death, a stipulation which automatically upgrades the severity of a murder offence. They argued the couple’s offence should be reduced to manslaughter.
On Sunday, Brendan Miller, who represented Jordan, told Postmedia that not returning a child to a parent under a custody agreement doesn’t amount to unlawful confinement, and should be considered an abduction in contravention of a custody order.
“The Supreme Court has made it clear that that offence is not committed against a child; it’s committed against the mother,” he said.
Woodhouse said Meika’s family and supporters expected to have to wait weeks or months before the Supreme Court justices arrived at a ruling.
“Honestly, it was a total shock — we weren’t prepared to get a decision today,” he said. “When those nine justices came back in and made their ruling, we knew it was finally over.”
Woodhouse said it will never fully amount to closure. But it does allow them to focus on their family, and hopefully help others in similar situations.
With the first-degree murder convictions upheld, neither will be able to apply for parole for 25 years.
The Canadian justice system did us proud today and delivered justice for Meika.