Victoria woman Kaela Janine Mehl has been found guilty of first degree murder in the death of her 18-month old daughter, Charlotte Cunningham.
The four-man, eight-woman jury came back with the verdict Wednesday morning after being given their instructions Tuesday afternoon by Justice Joyce DeWitt-Van Oosten.
Jurors had been instructed to apply a four-point test in determining whether Mehl, 34, was guilty of first degree murder, second degree murder or manslaughter in the Sept. 16, 2015 killing of Charlotte.
The jury had asked the judge to further explain the definition of “deliberate.”
Read Victoria News’ coverage of the Kaela Mehl murder trial
Oct. 4: Kaela Mehl guilty of first degree murder, sentenced to life in prison
Oct. 4: First degree murder conviction requires killing be planned and deliberate
Oct. 3: Jury must determine degree of planning in killing of toddler
Sept 28: Crown challenges psychiatrist as defence wraps in Mehl murder case
Sept: 27: Drafted suicide note revealed Mehl’s mental state: psychiatrist
Sept: 26: Victoria woman hired P.I. during custody battle
Sept. 21: Victoria woman had a mental disorder when she killed daughter: psychiatrist
Sept. 19: First responders describe gruesome Victoria crime scene to jury
Sept. 16: Mehl murder trial: “She was a good mother”
Sept. 14: Emotional day in Kaela Mehl trial as defendant’s suicide email read aloud
Sept. 13: Saanich police cautioned couple night before toddler was found dead
Sept. 12: Victoria mom charged with toddler’s murder weeps listening to recording of daughter crying
