'It's a nightmare': Grandmother of Aliyah Sanderson speaks out as Crown closes in Robert Leeming trial
Jodi Sanderson described her 22-month-old granddaughter, Aliyah, as a very active baby with lots of happiness in her life.
On Friday, she listened once again to traumatic details involving the discovery of her beloved granddaughter's remains.
“It’s a nightmare that I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy,” she said.
“I don’t know how I could have survived if they weren’t found, it’s just a nightmare that I’m reliving over and over.”
Aliyah, along with her 25-year-old mother, Jasmine Lovett, was found dead under piles of branches and mulch in a shallow grave near Grizzly Creek, a day-use area in Kananaskis Country, west of Calgary.
Robert Leeming, a 36-year-old U.K. citizen, has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the death of Lovett, but not guilty to second-degree murder in the death of Sanderson.
The bodies of Calgarian Jasmine Lovett and her 22-month-old daughter Aliyah Sanderson were located in Kananaskis Country in May 2019. (supplied images)
The mother and toddler were reported missing in April 2019 after they didn't show up for a family dinner. Leeming was initially arrested as a suspect but released without charge.
Court heard that a few weeks later, two undercover officers approached Leeming on a street near his Cranston home. Both were working on Operation Highwood, a 4.5-hour sting that culminated in Leeming leading the two undercover officers to Lovett and Sanderson’s bodies.
They said they recognized Leeming from media reports, telling him there was a bag of evidence found by a "nosy neighbour" that he may want to take care of.
Crown prosecutor Douglas Taylor continued to make his case in court Friday, interviewing an undercover police officer who was able to convince Leeming to show them where the bodies were.
The officer, who cannot be identified due to a publication ban, described several hours of audio recording conversations he had with Leeming, including the moment the bodies of Sanderson and Lovett were discovered.
Calgary police officers escort a suspect in the murders of Jasmine Lovett and Aliyah Sanderson into the arrest processing unit.
“We exited the vehicle and I described following Mr. Leeming into the trees and as we walked, Mr. Leeming suddenly stopped,” the officer said in court.
“I said ‘OK, where to?’ (Leeming) said, ‘you’re looking at it.’ I saw a small bit of blue which appeared to be moving blankets and I told (Leeming) not to touch anything so that we could preserve the scene.”
Court heard that the bodies were located near a large rock and officers were able to drive into the area by taking a pole from the centre of the road blocking an entranceway.
“Mr. Leeming indicated a small opening where we could drive up through the ditch and into some trees.”
The officer said Leeming also expressed relief that his 2014 Mercedes seized by police was an older model.
"It's funny 'cause they were telling me the Mercedes, they pretty much can hook up to the computer in the car and know exactly where I've been,'' Leeming said with a laugh.
"It's too old a car. If it was an '18, then I'd be in jail.''
Leeming appeared in court Friday wearing a grey sweatshirt and often rested his head in his hands, while looking down.
The prosecution was expected to wrap up its case Friday. The court case presided by Justice Keith Yamauchi will continue at 1030 a.m. Tuesday.
With files from The Canadian Press
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
RCMP not investigating possible foreign interference cases related to Chiu, Dong: Duheme
Canada's federal police force is not investigating any possible instances of foreign interference in the cases of former Conservative MP Kenny Chiu and Liberal-turned-Independent MP Han Dong, RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme says.
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
Stormy Daniels took the witness stand Tuesday at Donald Trump's hush money trial, describing for jurors a sexual encounter the porn actor says she had with him in 2006 that resulted in her being paid off to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
Bye-bye bag fee: Calgary repeals single-use bylaw
A Calgary bylaw requiring businesses to charge a minimum bag fee and only provide single-use items when requested has officially been tossed.
Air France flight from Paris to Seattle lands in Iqaluit after heat smell in cabin
A plane travelling from Paris to Seattle was forced to make an emergency landing in Iqaluit after there was a heat smell in the cabin during the flight.
CFL suspends Argos QB Chad Kelly at least nine games following investigation
The CFL suspended Toronto Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly for at least nine regular-season games Tuesday following its investigation into a lawsuit filed by a former strength-and-conditioning coach against both the player and club.
Boy Scouts of America changing name for first time in 114 years, aiming for inclusivity
The Boy Scouts of America is changing its name for the first time in its 114-year history and will become Scouting America. It's a significant shift as the organization emerges from bankruptcy following a flood of sexual abuse claims and seeks to focus on inclusion.
Federal government grants B.C.'s request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces
The federal government is granting British Columbia's request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces, nearly two weeks after the province asked to end its pilot project early over concerns of public drug use.
opinion Tom Mulcair: Trudeau's handling of Poilievre's 'wacko' House turfing a clear sign of Liberal desperation
When Speaker Greg Fergus tossed out Pierre Poilievre from the House last week, "those of us who have experience as parliamentarians simply couldn't believe our eyes," writes former NDP leader Tom Mulcair in his column for CTVNews.ca