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Rug, coat soaked in blood

Crown submissions continued today in the second-degree murder trial of Ryan Quigley.

Quigley is accused of killing his ex-fiancée Aimee Parkes in 2014 at the Haiwaitha Mobile Home Park.

Two days after Parkes' body was discovered in the home they shared at Hiawatha, Quigley was arrested and charged in her death.

In opening statements, Crown prosecutor Colin Forsyth told Madame Justice Alison Beames that Parkes died from blood loss as a result of 26 stab wounds to her head, neck, upper torso and shoulder.

The trial began on Monday with Quigley offering to plead guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter, a request denied by Crown who chose to go ahead with the second-degree murder trial.

Quigley’s lawyer, Kevin McCullough, told the court his client doesn’t deny killing his ex-fiancée, but still pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder.

McCullough said his client's defence would be based on factors of intent, provocation and intoxication.

Thursday morning Crown continued submissions by calling Const. Sarah McCarthy to testify.

McCarthy described combing through both the mobile home and Parkes' Suzuki SUV in the days following Parkes death.

From the rug in the bedroom to Parkes' cellphone and jacket found in the SUV, McCarthy said several items were found soaked in blood.

The SUV also contained clothing of Quigley's and items used, in her experience, to make crack pipes.

As a RCMP liaison to the family, she testified that she worked with a restoration company to ensure the mobile home was cleaned before Parkes family members walked through. She said she wanted to make sure the bedding, bed, blood stains and blood-covered rug were removed from the home as to not upset the family.

In the bedroom of the mobile home she found a diary that she told the court contained a detailed history of Parkes and Quigley's relationship starting from their very first date.

Parkes family has remained in the court room throughout the first four days of the trial. On Monday,  her father Graham Parkes said Quigley was “guilty as sin.”

The second-degree murder trial is expected to last four weeks. The Crown is expected to call 34 witnesses.

For past stories on this case, click here.



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