Accused double murderer Edward Downey taken to Calgary hospital in 'life-threatening condition'
Meghan Grant | CBC News | Posted: August 24, 2018 5:21 PM | Last Updated: August 24, 2018
Accused set to be tried in November on 2 counts of 1st-degree murder
Accused child killer Edward Downey is in critical, life-threatening condition in hospital Friday after suffering a serious medical emergency — two months before he is to go to trial on two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of a mother and her five-year-old daughter.
Paramedics were called to the Calgary Remand Centre just before 6 a.m. by corrections and remand medical staff after they found a prisoner in "medical distress," spokesperson Stuart Brideax confirmed.
Downey was taken to Foothills hospital by ambulance.
Defence lawyer Gavin Wolch did not elaborate on Downey's health issues but did tell Justice Beth Hughes that the medical emergency had only arisen Friday morning.
Downey is charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of Sara Baillie, 34, and her daughter, Taliyah Marsman, 5, who were killed in July 2016.
Amber Alert
The judge and lawyers involved were to meet Friday morning to discuss scheduling ahead of Downey's upcoming trial but the hearing had to be postponed until Downey can appear in person.
In July 2016, police were called to Baillie's home after she failed to show up for work. Officers discovered the mother's body in her basement apartment in the northwest community of Panorama Hills.
An Amber Alert was activated for the child when investigators realized she was missing. About a week later, Taliyah's body was discovered about eight kilometres east of Calgary near a rural road close to Chestermere.
Downey was known to both victims, according to police.
Crown prosecutors Carla McPhail and Ryan Jenkins did not oppose Friday's adjournment.
The three-week jury trial begins in November.
- MORE ALBERTA NEWS | Evacuation alert for Waterton Lakes National Park triggered by out-of-control wildfire
- MORE ALBERTA NEWS | Bret Hart named Courageous Chief in special Indigenous ceremony
- Read more articles by CBC Calgary, like us on Facebook for updates and subscribe to our CBC Calgary newsletter for the day's news at a glance