June 28, 2012 - 10:36 AM
OTTAWA - The Supreme Court of Canada has restored a second-degree murder conviction in the case of a Montreal woman who stabbed her sister-in-law 45 times in 2004.
The Quebec Court of Appeal ordered a new trial in the case, saying the judge should have allowed Suganthini Mayuran to present a defence of provocation.
It was alleged the sister-in-law ridiculed Mayuran over her learning ability.
In a 7-0 decision, the Supreme Court overturned the appeal court and restored the conviction.
In writing for the majority, Justice Rosalie Abella said a defence of provocation requires more than a scolding over someone's learning ability.
She said there was no air of reality to the accused's claim of provocation.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2012