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Kaela Mehl found guilty in Victoria of first degree murder in death of her daughter

Jury was asked to determine level of planning that happened before killing took place
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Defence lawyer Jeremy Mills and client Kaela Mehl stand outside the Victoria law courts on Blanshard Street. On Wednesday Mehl was convicted by a jury of first-degree murder in the death of her young daughter, Charlotte Cunningham. (Lauren Boothby/VICTORIA NEWS)

Victoria woman Kaela Janine Mehl has been found guilty of first degree murder in the death of her 18-month old daughter, Charlotte Cunningham.

The four-man, eight-woman jury came back with the verdict Wednesday morning after being given their instructions Tuesday afternoon by Justice Joyce DeWitt-Van Oosten.

Jurors had been instructed to apply a four-point test in determining whether Mehl, 34, was guilty of first degree murder, second degree murder or manslaughter in the Sept. 16, 2015 killing of Charlotte.

The jury had asked the judge to further explain the definition of “deliberate.”

editor@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