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Photo by Whitehorse Star
Pictured above: Norman Larue
Photo by Whitehorse Star
Pictured above: Norman Larue
A B.C. man is seeking an acquittal on a first-degree murder conviction.
A B.C. man is seeking an acquittal on a first-degree murder conviction.
Norman Eli Larue filed an appeal with the Yukon Supreme Court on Aug. 2.
In 2013, Larue and his then-girlfriend, Yukoner Christina Asp, were found guilty of the first-degree murder of Gordon Seybold, 63.
Seybold’s charred body was found in his burned-out Ibex Valley home in March 2008.
Sixteen months later, Larue and Asp were charged with his murder.
Both had criminal records at the time – Asp for manslaughter in the 2004 death of her common-law husband, and Larue for various crimes, including aggravated sexual assault.
Much of the Crown’s evidence during the three-month trial centred on the findings of an RCMP undercover operation called Project Monsoon, during which officers posed as criminals who could help cover up crimes.
In a video obtained by the RCMP, Asp detailed the murder.
In a recording, Larue claimed to have beaten Seybold with a baseball bat and slit his throat before lighting Seybold’s house on fire.
A jury found Larue guilty of first-degree murder. He was sentenced to life with no chance of parole for 25 years.
Asp was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to life with no chance of parole for 15 years.
Larue’s appeal states that the judge erred on many counts.
Those include not granting a change of venue, not granting an application for a mistrial after the Crown introduced improper “bad character” evidence, and in admitting the hearsay evidence of Asp, who was charged with contempt when she refused to testify during Larue’s trial.
The appeal also says “there was no evidence of planning and deliberation such that a jury could find first-degree murder on a reasonable instruction.”
Larue is seeking acquittal or a new trial.
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Comments (11)
Up 0 Down 0
Donny G on Aug 25, 2018 at 8:14 pm
He will NEVER get out of prison. 23 hours a day in his cell...one hour alone in exersize yard. No nothing.
That will be his life forever.
Up 1 Down 0
Me on Sep 23, 2016 at 11:51 am
Everyone has rights. No matter what. It's not fair that everyone complains about money over someone's life. Is money worth more than our fragile, short-lived lives?
Up 17 Down 2
Mark Sanders on Aug 25, 2016 at 8:55 am
I think there was planning involved and no reason for an appeal.
Up 33 Down 1
just me on Aug 24, 2016 at 12:00 am
Don't sweat it Normie, you'll be out of jail by the time you're 65 or so. You'll lose 25 years of the middle of your life, while you deprived Gord of 21 years at the end of his life. (Men's life expectancy.) I think you should spend the rest of your natural life in jail, and maybe you will since your sentence is 25 to life, and you don't seem to think you belong there. Not exactly the kind of guy who gets parole.
PS - must be tough in jail living alone with yourself and without too much in the way of drugs. Pretty ugly thing, eh?
Up 30 Down 1
Tater on Aug 23, 2016 at 8:28 pm
So this "upstanding" fellow thinks because the judge wouldn't move his trial and let in evidence of his "bad character" that he should get a new trial?
How about using the excuse that he did not beat the victim to death with a bat, slit his throat and burn the body......oh wait, he doesn't deny that.
His feet shouldn't touch the ground on the way to jail!
Up 20 Down 4
Fred Sullivan on Aug 23, 2016 at 7:24 pm
Another misunderstood miscreant. I am certain his legal council will benefit significantly (win or lose) at taxpayers expense. There was a time when a rope was the final arbiter and the ultimate response to aggravated homicide. How times have changed.
Up 33 Down 1
Matt on Aug 23, 2016 at 7:18 pm
What a useless waste of skin this idiot is.
Up 14 Down 10
Jack on Aug 23, 2016 at 5:31 pm
June Jackson hates lawyers until she or family member needs one.
Up 18 Down 0
Dr. Dave on Aug 23, 2016 at 4:50 pm
Fortunately very few first degree murder appeals based on anything other than DNA evidence are successful.
Up 43 Down 2
June Jackson on Aug 23, 2016 at 4:31 pm
I don't have a lot of respect for lawyers...I always wonder if there is any set of ethic's governing them at all. There doesn't seem to be. Someone like Larue probably has a string of them..
On the other hand, I totally understand Norman...he murdered someone and doesn't want to spend his life if jail for it...
I wonder how much this is going to cost the tax payers, and how much thought is being given to another human being laying on the floor beaten with a bat, his throat slit, and then set on fire. RIP Mr. Seybold, justice probably won't be done.
Up 65 Down 1
Thomas Brewer on Aug 23, 2016 at 2:44 pm
This career criminal should never get out of a murder one conviction based on these weak appeals. Makes one wonder what his lawyer is telling him.