Clifford Sleigh

Clifford Sleigh (born 1963) is a Canadian who has been found guilty of first-degree murder, kidnapping, and aggravated sexual assault.

Corrine Gustavson, nicknamed "Punky" because of her unruly tangle of hair, was kidnapped on the morning of September 6, 1992. She was found dead two days later in an Edmonton truckyard, about nine kilometres from her home.^[1]

He automatically receives a life sentence, with no chance of parole for 25 years. He was charged on March 14, 2003. He admitted to the crime of rape, but not to murder, he said that he kidnapped Corrine in a rage after he and his girlfriend got into an argument that morning. He thought that he could get back at her by taking the little girl and raping her.

Trial

Defence lawyer Peter Royal asked Dowling, the medical examiner, whether Punky could have died because of a condition where a little pressure on a nerve in the neck for a short period of time can cause death. Dowling said it would be unusual. Royal also asked whether the bruising to the girl's genitals could have been caused after she died. Dowling said what he saw didn't indicate that, but that it was possible.^[2] He also testified while being questioned by the Crown that there was little blood on the girl's body or clothes and that he believed that was because the bleeding would have stopped when she died.

The medical examiner also testified that the girl's clothing appeared to have been hastily put on – both legs were through the same hole of her underwear, her pants were on backwards and her arms weren't put through her jacket's armholes.^[3] Dowling said he believes her clothes were removed and then put back on. During the doctor's testimony, some of Punky's family and a juror wept. The girl's uncle left the courtroom, shaking his head. Sleigh tried to plead guilty to manslaughter at the beginning of the trial, but the Crown chose to proceed with a charge of first-degree murder.

The 42 year old was charged with first-degree murder, kidnapping and aggravated sexual assault in 2003.

Legal

Judge: Terrence Clackson. Lawyer for the Defense: Peter Royal. Lawyer for the Crown: Jason Track.

References

1. ^ "Clifford Sleigh guilty of Edmonton sex slaying". www.ctv.ca. http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/1117050837890_112460037. Retrieved 2009-03-31. 
2. ^ "6-year-old violently raped before death, expert testifies". www.cbc.ca. 2005-05-13. http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2005/05/13/sleigh-trial050513.html. Retrieved 2009-03-31. 
3. ^ "Guilty verdict in 'Punky' murder trial". www.cbc.ca. 2005-05-25. http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2005/05/25/SleighVerdict_050525.html. Retrieved 2009-03-31. 

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Name	Sleigh, Clifford
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Date of birth	1963
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