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
Introducing peanut butter during infancy can help protect against a peanut allergy later on, new study finds
New evidence suggests that feeding children smooth peanut butter during infancy and early childhood can help reduce their risk of developing a peanut allergy even years later.
P.E.I. kiteboarder 'lucky to be alive' after shark attack in Turks and Caicos
A professional kiteboarder from P.E.I. says he has been seriously injured in a shark attack that occurred while he was snorkelling in the Turks and Caicos Islands last week.
New COVID-19 subvariants become the dominant strains in Canada
More than four years after COVID-19 effectively shut down the world, two new variants of COVID-19 have become the dominant strains of the novel coronavirus in Canada.
Black bear kebabs make family sick with parasitic worms
It was supposed to be a celebration, but one family’s unique meal of black bear meat sent several members to the hospital instead.
The double-level airplane seat is back. This time, there's a first-class version
It’s the airplane seat design that launched a thousand memes and kickstarted a media storm. And now the double-level seat is back – only this time, with a twist.
'Unruly passenger' forces WestJet flight to make emergency landing in B.C.
A WestJet flight heading to Calgary had to make an emergency landing in northern B.C. Monday due to an incident involving an 'unruly passenger,' Mounties say.
NEW Oilers superfan hopeful Edmonton wins so he can get his massive Stanley Cup tattoo retouched
It's been a long time coming, but one Oilers superfan is hoping this will be the year he gets to touch up his massive Stanley Cup back tattoo.
House of Commons Speaker Greg Fergus survives vote calling for his ouster
Greg Fergus survived a vote to oust him as House of Commons Speaker on Tuesday, but with close to half of MPs expressing a loss of confidence in him, he faces a precarious path forward in maintaining order in Parliament.
'It was hell': Israeli mother held hostage with her children describes 51 days in captivity
Hagar Brodutch, her three children and four-year-old neighbour were kidnapped by Hamas-led militants from their home in Kfar Aza, Israel on Oct. 7 and held for 51 days. They were released in November, but Brodutch says her thoughts are never far from those still being held in Gaza.