WATCH: In early June, Jordan Spencer and Marie Magoon were convicted of the second degree murder of Jordan’s daughter Meika. Now the crown is hoping to change that to first degree murder. Nancy Hixt reports.
CALGARY – The family of Meika Jordan is hoping for a slight reprieve in the murder case that will forever haunt them.
Earlier this month, the six-year-old’s father, Spencer Jordan, and stepmother, Marie Magoon, were convicted of the lesser charge of second-degree murder. They were originally charged with first-degree murder.
Meika died November 14, 2011 after succumbing to her injuries. Court testimony and evidence revealed she was badly abused for days leading up to her death.
Her family said they have renewed hope in their fight for justice after learning the Crown had filed an appeal.
“We had pretty much accepted the fact it was second-degree and that was something we were working through,” said Kyla Woodhouse, Meika’s mother.
Crown prosecutor Susan Pepper confirmed an appeal had been filed to Global News.
“We are asking the court to substitute a conviction of first-degree murder for the second-degree murder conviction,” said Pepper. “In general, a Crown appeal can only be filed on a point of law and we have 30 days from the date of conviction. I cannot comment further on the content of the appeal as the matter is still before the courts.”
This new development in the young girl’s murder took her family by surprise.
“It was quite a shock,” said Brian Woodhouse, Meika’s stepfather. “We had absolutely no idea that kind of thing was even happening or progressing.”
The implications of a successful appeal could be enormous.
“There was some hinting towards if the first-degree conviction could be upheld, and if that’s what comes out of this at the end, there’s some hopes and dreams that this could be one of the cases used to hopefully change case law, and the way child abuse laws are being viewed. Us personally, we’ve kind of dubbed this victory as Meika’s Law,” he said.
The appeal process however, could take months.
For now, Brian and Kyla Woodhouse are satisfied Meika’s killers are behind bars for life.
“I think that would be the absolute ultimate piece of justice for her,” said Kyla Woodhouse.
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