WATCH ABOVE: The man accused in the murder of Edmonton nurse Shernell Pierre was found guilty in court Wednesday. Kendra Slugoski reports.
EDMONTON – An Edmonton man accused in his ex-girlfriend’s murder was found guilty Wednesday afternoon.
Devon Saunders, 46, was found guilty of first-degree murder in Shernell Pierre’s 2008 death.
“Justice has been served,” said Pierre’s sister, Jolin Thompson. “I never once gave up hope. Never once.”
Pierre was found inside her burned out car in March 2008, near the Misericordia Hospital where she worked. The 26-year-old nurse was shot in the back of the head, then her vehicle was set on fire with her body inside.
Saunders was a suspect from the beginning, but despite extensive police questioning, he denied any involvement. Nearly four years to the day of Pierre’s death, police arrested and charged Saunders with first-degree murder.
“This was not an easy case,” said Insp. Dennis Storey with the Edmonton Police Service. “A lot of evidence was destroyed because of the fire. We had to approach things differently. We had to be open-minded about how things came together and just tenacious.”
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There was no DNA evidence linking Saunders to the crime scene. The case was built on circumstantial evidence.
Security footage from West Edmonton mall showed Saunders going in with an item of clothing. Minutes later he left empty handed. He was only wearing a T-shirt in below zero temperatures.
The next morning, police watched Saunders ditch a glove in a dumpster. That glove was covered with gunshot residue.
“On the one hand it’s a very strong case because there was strong circumstantial evidence. But on the other hand, a circumstantial case takes a lot longer to prove because there isn’t the direct evidence. So it was a strong case but it takes a long time to prove all the elements,” said Crown Prosecutor Neil Wiberg. “It’s nice to see that justice was served.”
READ MORE: Edmonton murder trial in nurse’s death begins, ex-boyfriend accused
Now, seven years later, Pierre’s family has a bit of closure.
“To actually hear the judge say ‘guilty’ the way that he put it, it was a relief,” said Thompson. “My body just went a different temperature.”
Saunders has been sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 25 years.
With files from Kendra Slugoski, Global News.
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