Warning: There are details in this story some readers will find disturbing.
Felicity Altiman has been convicted of second-degree murder in the stabbing death of Robert Keskinen in his International Hotel building apartment on Dec. 25, 2020.
The six-man, six-woman jury needed about a day of deliberations to produce the verdict after being charged by Superior Court Justice Dan Cornell on Tuesday.
Deliberations went until early Tuesday evening and then resumed Wednesday morning, with the verdict coming about 2 p.m.
The conviction carries with it an automatic life sentence of 25 years.
Altiman, seated next to her lawyer, Stephen Hinkson, did not appear to show any emotion upon hearing the verdict.
She must serve at least 10 years before being eligible for parole. The jury was asked to make recommendations about when Altiman should be eligible for parole. One juror made no recommendation, another 10 years, two suggested 15 years, one 17 years, one 18 years, five said 20 years, and one 25 years.
Altiman has been in custody for close to four years, time which will be considered for her parole eligibility.
Hinkson requested the preparation of both a pre-sentence report and a Gladue report, which assists a judge with sentencing options for people of First Nation heritage.
A sentencing hearing date will be set in Superior assignment court on Nov. 19.
Altiman, 42, who has remained in custody since her arrest on Jan. 7, 2021, was charged in the stabbing death of Keskinen, 75, on Dec. 24-25, 2020, in his apartment in the International Hotel building on Kathleen Street.
He had been stabbed 103 times. His scrotum had also been cut away and stuffed down his throat along with food.
The jury heard that blood and DNA evidence linked Altiman to the murder. She had also left a party at the International the night Keskinen was killed and returned with some of his clothing, his boots and beer.
Late Wednesday morning, before arriving at a verdict, the jury had three questions it wanted the court to answer: What does state of mind mean? What constitutes reasonable doubt? Does 80 per cent mean reasonable doubt? Or 50 per cent? And how far off can theories be made from the facts?
When jury members returned to the courtroom, Cornell addressed them.
Concerning the first question, he told the jury “You can’t deal with state of mind unless you determine (Altiman) murdered (Keskinen).”
Cornell then said if that determination was made, “when she stabbed him, what did she intend to do? Is she guilty of murder or manslaughter?
“If you get to question No. 3 (questions the jury has to answer during deliberations), she is guilty of something. Some of you may find she meant to kill him. Some of you may find she committed bodily harm and was reckless …
“You don’t have to agree on state of mind. If one of these things is in place, that’s enough.”
The judge stressed that a state of mind is required for murder.
“You must consider all of the evidence when you consider the question of her state of mind,” he said.
As for reasonable doubt, Cornell told the jury that in the Canadian court system, percentages are not used.
“(Reasonable doubt) can’t be imaginary, can’t be far-fetched, can’t be frivolous,” he said. “It is a doubt that is based on reason and common sense. It is a doubt that arises from the evidence or lack of evidence.”
As for the theories question, the judge said “The simple answer is they cannot. Theories are not facts. You must rely on the evidence that came forward to determine the facts.”
In his closing submissions Monday, Hinkson argued that while there is no question Altiman stole items from Keskinen’s apartment, she did not kill him. He said when Altiman got to his apartment, Keskinen was already dead.
Hinkson said Altiman should have called the police, but she didn’t. “Ladies and gentlemen of the jury: Felicity Altiman is guilty of theft, maybe bad judgment,” he said. “But, she is not guilty of murder.”
In her closing submissions, assistant Crown attorney Kaely Whillans said Altiman went to Keskinen’s apartment to steal from him – something she had done before – but it didn’t go as planned.
Whillans said Altiman “had the opportunity, the knowledge and the ability to steal from Mr. Keskinen. It just wasn’t as easy on this occasion as it was in the past …
“Felicity Altiman brutally, senselessly and callously stabbed Mr. Keskinen over 100 times before degrading him by skinning his scrotum. Guilty is the only logical conclusion.”
X: @HaroldCarmichae