David Folker found guilty of 2nd-degree murder
Judge to decide on parole eligibility, with recommendation from jury
David Folker has been found guilty of second-degree murder in the July 2010 death of his girlfriend, Ann Marie Shirran.
A 12-person Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador jury determined that Folker intended to kill Shirran when the two quarrelled in their Kilbride apartment in St. John's.
The defence had argued that Folker, 42, originally from Nova Scotia, was guilty of the lesser charge of manslaughter in the death of Shirran, who was also the mother of their young son.
However, the Crown insisted Folker kicked Shirran repeatedly in the head, killing her in the couple's kitchen.
Satisfied with verdict
Prosecutor Lloyd Strickland said the verdict was a long time coming.
"Despite the defendant's changing story, we decided to put all of the evidence before the jury ... and we let them decide. And we are quite satisfied with how it turned out," said Strickland.
"Given (Folker's) actions after (Shirran's death), his well-orchestrated attempts to hide her body ... it all speaks to the fact that he intended to kill her."
People say the hurt gets better in time, but it doesn't. The hurt don't go away, you just learn to accept it more.- Jon Baggs, Ann Marie Shirran's father
Shirran's father Jon Baggs said he was relieved with the guilty verdict, but never doubted Folker murdered his daughter.
"People say the hurt gets better in time, but it doesn't," said Baggs, who also lost a son to a drunk driver several years ago. "The hurt don't go away, you just learn to accept it more."
The jury had been told that Shirran, 32, had wanted to end her relationship with Folker.
In the hours after Shirran's death, Folker stuffed Shirran's body in the rear of his vehicle and drove down the Southern Shore highway before dumping her body in a remote area outside Cappahayden.
Folker was also found guilty of interfering with human remains.
The conviction comes with an automatic life sentence, but the jury has made a recommendation to the judge on the amount of time Folker should serve before he's eligible for parole.
Folker's defence lawyers said any decision to appeal the verdict would be up to their client.
He's scheduled to be sentenced Dec. 4.