The Alberta Court of Appeal has upgraded convictions for the killers of six-year-old Meika Jordan, a Calgary girl who was brutally tortured and murdered in November 2011.
Meika’s father, Spencer Jordan, and stepmother, Marie Magoon, are now both convicted of first-degree murder.
The ruling came down Thursday morning from a panel of three justices.
“We agree with the Crown that constructive first-degree murder was created for cases like this one,” the ruling reads. “We have concluded the appellants should be convicted of first-degree murder.”
Meika’s mother and stepfather, Kyla and Brian Woodhouse, were in tears as they received news of the decision from the Crown prosecutor.
“There isn’t a word for what I’m feeling,” Brian Woodhouse told Global News minutes after the decision was handed down.
“It’s justice,” he said.
“Six years we have been fighting to get here.”
READ MORE: Parents relive details of 6-year-old Meika Jordan’s torture during killers’ appeal
Kyla said she was ecstatic.
“It’s hard to actually find the words,” she said. “I’m completely over the moon. Finally, justice has been served.”
The convictions mean Magoon and Jordan will receive automatic life sentences with no chance of parole for at least 25 years.
The two Crowns who prosecuted the case said the decision is the result of “the hard work of so many.”
“We are very pleased with the court’s decision and we are encouraged by the potential legal implications for cases involving child homicides,” Hyatt Mograbee and Susan Pepper wrote in a statement to Global News. “We sincerely hope that Meika Jordan’s family gains some comfort from this decision.”
The pair had first been sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 17 years after originally being convicted of second-degree murder.
A year later in September 2016, both defence and Alberta Justice argued grounds for appeal.
Watch below: Global’s ongoing coverage of the case
The Crown had asked the Alberta Court of Appeal to find Meika’s killers guilty of first-degree murder instead of the original trial judge’s finding of second-degree murder. Jordan and Magoon’s hope was to be acquitted or face new trials.
The panel’s ruling states “appeals by both Magoon and Jordan from their convictions are dismissed.”
“I knew it was a possibility, but I honestly didn’t think it would happen,” Brian said, referring to the upgraded conviction.
“This is what winning a lottery must feel like.”
READ MORE: Crown appeals second-degree murder conviction in Meika Jordan case
During the trial and the appeal, court heard Meika was forced to run stairs, was repeatedly hit and was burned. Jordan also dragged her up and down the stairs by her ankles.
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