Man guilty of second-degree murder in 2020 stomping death of his mother
WARNING: This story contains disturbing details
An Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench judge has found a Maskwacis man guilty of murdering his mother when he repeatedly stomped on her head in November of 2020.
Ashton Lloyd Saddleback, 34, was found guilty of second-degree murder in the death of 51-year-old Lisa Saddleback.
Justice Steven Mandziuk delivered his ruling in a Wetaskiwin courtroom on Thursday morning.
Court heard that Saddleback had been drinking heavily in the hours before he got in a confrontation with his mother.
He hit her and then stomped on her head repeatedly with the heel of his foot, and with enough force to send blood spraying across the room, according to court records.
“He saw the results of his actions vividly with blood flying around the room,” Mandziuk said. “But he kept going. Stomping on her head multiple times with visible results and a recklessness of whether she lived or died.”
Mandziuk said Saddleback’s actions went beyond manslaughter – an unlawful killing without intent – due to the obvious risk to his mother’s life and sustained nature of his attack.
“Despite his intoxication Mr. Saddleback had the requisite intent for second-degree murder.”
Mounties found Saddleback’s body at a Maskwacis home in the early hours of Nov. 7, 2020.
The court heard how after Saddleback attacked her, he called 911, began consuming cannabis and attempted to clean up the scene.
He admitted the killing and described the attack to police in detail during an interview where he was described as “distraught” as well as “intoxicated but functional.”
Lawyers are scheduled to meet on the afternoon of March 8 to begin sentencing proceedings.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Signs of Alzheimer’s were everywhere. Then his brain improved
Blood biomarkers of telltale signs of early Alzheimer’s disease in the brain of his patient, 55-year-old entrepreneur Simon Nicholls, had all but disappeared in a mere 14 months.
Box tree moths have infested Ontario and experts say more are coming. Here's what to do to protect your garden
An invasive moth species is on the rise in Canada and, if you've planted a certain shrub, it could stand to ruin your garden.
Lyon-bound Air Canada Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner from Montreal turns back midflight due to pressurization alert
Passengers heading from Montreal to Lyon, France on Friday were forced to return home and depart the next day after a pressurization indication was detected in flight.
Oilers dominate Canucks, win to force deciding Game 7
The Edmonton Oilers avoided elimination from the NHL playoffs Saturday night, beating the visiting Vancouver Canucks 5-1 in Game 6 of their second-round series.
The eight most expensive homes for sale in Ottawa this spring
Ottawa's ultra luxury housing market is blooming like the tulips this spring, with a significant increase in the number of homes sold worth more than $2 million.
B.C. pipeline company argues its 'haulers' are not trucks, for tax purposes
A contractor working on the Coastal GasLink pipeline has been denied more than $333,000 worth of tax rebates because pieces of machinery it purchased – and claimed were not trucks – were deemed sufficiently truck-like in B.C. Supreme Court.
$500K-worth of elvers seized at Toronto airport
Fishery and border service officers seized more than 100 kilograms of unauthorized elvers at the Toronto Pearson International Airport on Wednesday.
Usyk beats Fury by split decision, becomes undisputed heavyweight champion
Oleksandr Usyk defeated Tyson Fury by split decision to become the first undisputed heavyweight boxing champion in 24 years.
To plant or not to plant? Gardening tips for May long weekend
May long weekend is finally here, and with the extra time off you may be getting the itch to head out to your garden and plant. However, the old debate whether you should plant now, or wait, is still ever-present.