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
Several flight attendants from Pakistan have gone missing after landing in Canada
Multiple flight attendants from Pakistan International Airlines have abandoned their jobs and are believed to have sought asylum in Canada in the past year and a half, a spokesperson for the government-owned airline says.
BREAKING Ottawa public school board, 3 Toronto-area school boards launch lawsuit against social media giants
The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board and three school boards in the Toronto-area have launched legal action against social media giants, accusing them of "disrupting students' fundamental right to education."
Rainfall warnings of up to 90 mm among weather alerts in effect for 7 provinces
Rainfall warnings of up to 90 millimetres, air quality advisories and other alerts have been issued for seven Canadian provinces, according to the latest forecasts.
Tipping is off the table at this Toronto restaurant
A Toronto restaurant introduced a surprising new rule that reduced the cost of a meal and raised the salaries of staff.
A Nigerian woman reviewed some tomato puree online. Now she faces jail
A Nigerian woman who wrote an online review of a can of tomato puree is facing imprisonment after its manufacturer accused her of making a “malicious allegation” that damaged its business.
Donald Trump assails judge and his daughter after gag order in N.Y. hush-money criminal case
Donald Trump lashed out Wednesday at the New York judge who put him under a gag order that bars him from commenting publicly about witnesses, prosecutors, court staff and jurors in his upcoming hush-money criminal trial.
A fight to protect the dignity of Michelangelo's David raises questions about freedom of expression
Michelangelo's David has been a towering figure in Italian culture since its completion in 1504. But in the current era of the quick buck, curators worry the marble statue's religious and political significance is being diminished.
Doctors visiting a Gaza hospital are stunned by the war's toll on Palestinian children
An international team of doctors visiting a hospital in central Gaza was prepared for the worst. But the gruesome impact Israel’s war against Hamas is having on Palestinian children still left them stunned.
What new auto insurance reforms will mean for Ontarians, if they get introduced
Ontario has among the highest rates for auto insurance premiums in Canada -- just below Alberta and Nova Scotia -- however, the introduction of an insurance reform in the provincial budget could soon lower prices.