Edmonton man found guilty in Courtepatte slaying

Michael Briscoe has been found guilty of first-degree murder for killing 13-year-old Nina Courtepatte in April2005.

However, Justice Keith Yamauchi said theCrown failed to prove Briscoe was involved in the murder ofprostitute Ellie May Meyer.

Briscoe, 41,who was on trial for both deaths, was also convicted ofkidnapping and sexual assault in the Courtepatte slaying. He was given an automaticlife sentence with no chance ofparole for 25 years.

In his 108-page decision, Yamauchi saidBriscoe was not a credible witness, going as far as to sayBriscoe lied several times during his testimony.

Courtepatte's mother, Peacha Atkinson, cried out as Yamauchi announced his decision. Ellie May Meyer's parents sat nearby in thefront row of the crowded courtroom.

Atkinson said outside court that the conviction of the last person involved in her daughter's death is important.

"It's still bittersweet. It still doesn't bring Nina back,"she said. "I still can't get to hold herexcept through my pictures but it's a good ending."

Courtepatte's battered body was found on a golf course west of Edmonton in April 2005, while Meyer was found in a farmer'sfield east of the city in May.

Police believe Meyer was killed two days before Courtepatte.

Briscoedenied participating in thebrutal sexual attack andmurder of Courtepatte, although he admitteddriving the teen, along with a group of young people, to a golf course west of the city.

Yamauchi said while Briscoe did not kill or sexually assault Courtepatte, he knew what his accomplice, Joseph Laboucan, planned to do.

Laboucan was convicted in both the Meyer and Courtepatte slayings.

While Briscoe's ex-girlfriend Stephanie Bird testified during the trialshe saw Briscoe and Laboucan beating Meyer, Yamauchidid not believe the Crown proved beyond a reasonable doubt Briscoe had struck her.

Briscoe was acquitted in Courtepatte's death after a trial in 2007, but the decision was later overturned by the Supreme Court of Canada and a new trial was ordered.