Convicted Calgary murderer Robert Leeming’s sentencing delayed
Posted Sep 6, 2022 2:58 pm.
Last Updated Sep 7, 2022 12:42 pm.
The sentencing for a man found guilty of killing a mother and her young daughter has been delayed until November.
Robert Leeming, 37, was arrested by police in May 2019 after they found the remains of Jasmine Lovett and her 22-month-old daughter Aliyah Sanderson.
Leeming confessed in 2020 to killing Lovett, but not her daughter. His lawyer, Balfour Der, said during closing arguments in the November 2021 murder trial that there was no evidence to prove Leeming was responsible for the child’s death.
However, he was found guilty of second-degree murder in Aliyah’s death in January
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The mother and daughter were found dead on May 6, 2019 in Grizzly Creek, a day-use area in Kananaskis Country west of Calgary, buried in shallow graves.
Crown prosecutor Douglas Taylor argued Aliyah’s death required planning, claiming she was killed to cover up Lovett’s murder.
Taylor added that Leeming lied to police and the media about the circumstances around Aliyah’s death.
The Crown is calling for life in prison for both counts of second-degree murder. It is also asking for no chance of parole for 15-20 years for the murder of Lovett, and no chance of parole for up to 25 years for the murder of Aliyah.
Judge Keith Yamauchi adjourned the sentencing Tuesday afternoon until the first week of November.
The day in court saw the family of the victims read impact statements.
Aliyah’s grandmother, Jodi Sanderson, read her statement through tears.
“Torture is the only way to describe what it’s like losing a loved one, because they were the victim of homicide or neglect,” Sanderson said.
Sanderson also read a poem called I Want You Here.
A statement was also read by Lovett’s mother, Kim Blankert, and her sister, detailing how they struggle with anxiety and nightmares.
-With files from Jillian Code
