Jury deliberated five hours before reaching a verdict
Alicia Murphy is guilty as charged of the second-degree murder of Evangeline Billy.
Alicia Murphy is guilty as charged of the second-degree murder of Evangeline Billy.
The verdict came from a Yukon Supreme Court jury early Tuesday evening, after five hours of deliberation, which followed 11 days of evidence, arguments and instruction.
The five women and seven men who heard the case against the 29-year-old Whitehorse resident said they had no suggestions on when the woman should be eligible for parole.
Second-degree murder comes with an automatic life sentence, but offenders can apply for parole as early as10 years into their term, depending on a judge's ruling.
During the trial, jurors were given a look into the the world of the 98 Hotel, where Murphy and Billy – both mothers of young children, both unemployed and living on social assistance, both addicted to drugs and alcohol – spent many of their days.
They heard from one of Billy's friends that the 28-year-old Carmacks woman had been doing well in the months leading up to her death, but that she was seen heading to the river bank, a popular spot to drink and smoke crack, on the night before she was killed.
They heard from drug dealers who described the trafficking chain, with a non-user at the top who sold his crack down through a succession of addicts until the drug reached the sidewalk out front of the Wood Street bar.
They heard from addicts who described weekend-long drug binges, alcoholics who said crack is a "leveller” which sobers them up so they can keep drinking long after they would otherwise be incapacitated.
Billy's body was found floating in the Yukon River on June 22, 2008, caught against the pilings left over from the sternwheeler days.
She had near-toxic levels of alcohol in her system and traces of crack cocaine. She had been beaten and drowned.
Later that night, the RCMP were contacted by a woman who said Murphy had confessed to accidentally killing Billy during an attempted robbery.
When questioned by police the next day, Murphy's older sister admitted to hearing a similar story.
Murphy has said she was innocent from the beginning, but only offered an alibi for the night in question a week ago, three months after the only person who could have corroborated her story had killed himself.
This afternoon, Justice Ron Veale is scheduled to decide when Murphy will be eligible for parole.
Comments (3)
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A friend of Evangeline on Oct 28, 2009 at 12:42 pm
I strongly believe that she, Alicia Murphy, should be sentenced to 25 years. She attemted to plead not guilty to crime she had obviously committed. With an attitude or mind that has her to think she deserves to be set free for such a vicious crime a of young women who was supposedly her friend!! I say 25 years WITHOUT PAROLE!
A family now has to continue on their days knowing that they will never see their beautiful daughter, sister, niece, friend and a mother of 3 for the rest of their days here on earth!! Yet, this murder can live out her days in jail knowing that she will one day be set free to return home to her family.
A person of such ignorance and lack of shame should be held accountable and justice needs to be done!! Makes me wonder how she can rest her head at night!!
To the family of Evan, know that she was a beautiful spirit, filled with love for her friends, a genuine smile that can capture your heart, a hug that can lift you off the ground and a shoulder that could almost carry the world. She was well known and respected by many. She is one friend that I will always remember. And for her children, we must let the beauty of her spirit be remembered, so that they can know who she was when she was well and healthy. May you, in time, find peace, knowing that she may finally rest in peace. And lets home justice is done right for our native sister!!
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mark land on Oct 28, 2009 at 10:39 am
eligible for parole after 20 years sounds right. Send that murderer out of the territory and into the pen.
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PAS on Oct 28, 2009 at 7:51 am
Well thank Christ! Finally, some justice served up just right in our Territory. Lets hope this trend continues when dealing with that cold blooded killer, Christina Asp!
I hope that this verdict gives Evan's family some peace, and will allow them to move forward in their own lives and find some kind of happiness again.