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MURDER TRIAL: Victoria mom pursues Not Criminally Responsible defence after first degree murder conviction

Kaela Mehl has been found guilty of first degree murder in the death of her young daughter Charlotte Cunningham
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Defence lawyer Jeremy Mills and client Kaela Mehl stand outside the Victoria law courts on Blanshard Street. Closing arguments were slated to happen Tuesday in Mehl’s first-degree murder trial in the death of her young daughter, Charlotte Cunningham. Mehl has pleaded not guilty to the charge. (Lauren Boothby/VICTORIA NEWS)

Kaela Mehl is pursuing the defence of not criminally responsible on account of a mental disorder (NCR-MD) after she was convicted of first degree murder earlier today.

The four-man, eight-woman Victoria jury returned their unanimous verdict this morning after a three-week trial. Mehl was charged with first degree murder in the Sept. 16, 2015 death of her 18-month-old daughter Charlotte Cunningham. The judge is instructing the jury this afternoon on how to determine whether the NCR-MD defence applies in this case.

More to come.

lauren.boothby@vicnews.com

Read Victoria News’ coverage of the Kaela Mehl murder trial

Oct. 4: Kaela Mehl guilty of first degree murder, sentenced to life in prison

Oct. 4: First degree murder conviction requires killing be planned and deliberate

Oct. 3: Jury must determine degree of planning in killing of toddler

Sept 28: Crown challenges psychiatrist as defence wraps in Mehl murder case

Sept: 27: Drafted suicide note revealed Mehl’s mental state: psychiatrist

Sept: 26: Victoria woman hired P.I. during custody battle

Sept. 21: Victoria woman had a mental disorder when she killed daughter: psychiatrist

Sept. 19: First responders describe gruesome Victoria crime scene to jury

Sept. 16: Mehl murder trial: “She was a good mother”

Sept. 14: Emotional day in Kaela Mehl trial as defendant’s suicide email read aloud

Sept. 13: Saanich police cautioned couple night before toddler was found dead

Sept. 12: Victoria mom charged with toddler’s murder weeps listening to recording of daughter crying