Children's items found near slain mom's grave

Items found in a fire pit police discovered in a remote area of Kananaskis Country, not far from where the shallow graves of a mother and child were found, were linked to a young child, court heard Wednesday.

Const. Jim Weeks said he examined the fire pit off a trunk road near the Fortress Junction Service station and found several burned relics, including a toddler's shoe.

Crime scene investigators went to the snowy area in the early hours of May 6, 2019, after accused double-murderer Robert Leeming was targeted by an undercover sting the Crown says led to the discovery of the bodies of Jasmine Lovett and her toddler daughter.

Weeks said one of the items he found in the fire pit, which was in a day-use area where fires were prohibited, was the remnants of what appeared to be a toddler's leather shoe.

“This, in my opinion, is the outsole,” Weeks told Crown prosecutor Doug Taylor, pointing to a photograph of the item displayed on a courtroom monitor.

“What really stands out is the no .7 manufacturer stamp,” he said. “The No. 7 is of relevance to me.” Weeks said he did some internet research on the age of a child who would wear such a size.

“They're a toddler size seven, age group being two years of age.”

Leeming is charged with two counts of second-degree murder in the April 2019 disappearance and death of his girlfriend, Lovett, 25, and her 22-month-old daughter, Aliyah Sanderson.

Leeming pleaded guilty in connection with Lovett's death at the start of his judge alone trial on Tuesday, but maintains his innocence in the death of the child.

In his opening address to Justice Keith Yamauchi, Taylor said he anticipates pathologist Dr. Akmal Coetzee-khan will find both deaths were the result of homicide.

Among the other items Weeks said he found in the charred debris inside the fire pit were several pages from a child's book and the partial cover of a DVD version of the movie The Jungle Book. He also found several items related to a child's car seat, including a sticker showing the manufacturer, Graco.

Weeks said the production company was unable to determine where the product was sold, but it was manufactured in Canada.

He also said a canine unit dog was able to detect accelerant at the fire pit.

Weeks's testimony resumes on Thursday.

Leeming remains in custody pending an outcome to his case.