Not guilty verdict in axe murder trial

A 24-year-old Toronto woman has been found not guilty of an Etobicoke axe murder.

A jury acquitted Ashleigh Pechaluk Thursday afternoon of murdering Dennis Hoy, the boyfriend of her female lover, in October, 2006. The Crown had alleged Ms. Pechaluk conspired with Nicola Puddicombe, 36, to kill Mr. Hoy because he was getting in the way of their relationship.

“˜”˜I always knew they would’’ bring back an acquittal, Ms. Pechaluk told reporters as she walked from the courthouse.

She left with her mother, Beverley Salton, who was overjoyed at the outcome.

“˜”˜This is the first time i’ve been able to touch her in two years and seven months,’’ said Ms. Salton.

Mr. Hoy was found dead in the Queensway apartment the two co-accused shared with a third roommate. The GO Transit officer was found face-down on Ms. Puddicombe’s bed, bludgeoned to death with an axe.

Police arrested Ms. Pechaluk, who was 20 years old at the time, on the night of her murder; Ms. Puddicombe, who was the sole beneficiary of Mr. Hoy’s $250,000 life insurance, was arrested eight months later in May, 2007. Ms. Puddicombe faces a separate trial, which is scheduled to begin at the conclusion of Ms. Pechaluk’s.

After hearing seven weeks of testimony, the jury retired to consider its verdict on Monday. After 15 hours of deliberation, the jury told Madam Justice Mary Lou Benotto Wednesday they were deadlocked, but she urged them to keep trying. They came back with a verdict around 4 p.m. today.

Ms. Pechaluk and Ms. Puddicombe met in 2005 at the Loblaws where Ms. Puddicombe was a manager and Ms. Pechaluk worked in the photo section.

Two key Crown witnesses, who were friends of Ms. Pechaluk, also worked at the store. They testified that the defendant discussed a plan to kill Mr. Hoy, which the Crown suggested had striking similarities with the events that unfolded on the night of the murder.