The appellant appealed a jury conviction for first degree murder arising from the death of a young child in his care following an admitted sexual assault and repeated blows to the head.
He argued the trial judge inadequately charged the jury on the intent required for murder and erred in refusing an offence-based challenge for cause.
The court held the evidentiary record overwhelmingly supported the requisite intent and the jury charge, read as a whole, was legally sufficient.
It also held that offence-based challenge for cause was unavailable absent evidence connecting attitudes about the crime to prejudice against the accused.
The appeal was dismissed.
