A Calgary couple has been found guilty of second-degree murder in the 2011 beating death of a six-year-old girl.
Meika Jordan died from severe blunt-force trauma to her head and abdomen after being admitted to Alberta Children's Hospital in November 2011.
Spencer Jordan, Meika's father, and Marie Magoon, her stepmother, were originally charged with first-degree murder in the girl's death.
The pair admitted to spanking and punching Meika in a video captured by police during an undercover "Mr. Big" sting operation.
"I know I spanked her. I know that I pushed her on Saturday – pushed her really hard. She hit her head really hard," Spencer Jordan is heard saying in the video. "I know I punched her Sunday morning. I punched her really hard, I didn't hold back."
It was alleged the abuse took place over the course of four days before she was taken to hospital.
When reading the verdict on Wednesday, Justice Rosemary Nation said both Jordan and Magoon delivered potentially fatal blows to the child.
Meika's mother, Kyla Woodhouse, and her stepfather, Brian Woodhouse, told reporters outside the court that they were disappointed with the second-degree verdict.
"It's not what we were hoping for, we pushed for first-degree from the beginning," said Brian Woodhouse.
However, Kyla said that she had come to grips with the decision after she was surrounded by her family in the courtroom.
"As long as it came down to a guilty verdict, we get our justice for her and that’s what we've been striving for the last almost four years now," said Kyla Woodhouse.
Jordan and Magoon's conviction comes with an automatic life sentence, with no chance of parole for 10 and 25 years. Crown prosecutor Susan Pepper said she will be asking the judge to hand out sentences that are near the maximum.
Meika's mother said she and husband plan to do everything they can to ensure that occurs, including filling out victim-impact statements and attending the sentencing hearing.
"We will be there to push and … to make sure that they spend every minute behind bars that they possibly can," said Brian Woodhouse.
"We're not going to let them ever forget about this," said Kyla Woodhouse.
Sentencing is expected to take place on Sept. 18.
