Paul Calnen to appeal conviction for murder of Reita Jordan
Posted Feb 10, 2016 06:04:49 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
HALIFAX – A man from Hammonds Plains convicted of second degree murder in the death of his girlfriend and indecently interfering with her remains has filed an appeal.
Paul Calnen, 52, was sentenced last month to life in prison with no chance of parole for 15 years in the death of Reita Jordan, 34, who was murdered in 2013.
Metro Halifax reports on Monday, documents for an appeal of Calnen’s conviction were filed in Nova Scotia Supreme Court on multiple grounds.
The documents allege the trial judge, Justice James Chipman, made mistakes by allowing police interviews and text messages between the victim and a friend into evidence, while they also allege the jury’s verdict was not supported by evidence.
The appeal documents also argue, among other things, that the sentence handed down to Calnen was harsh and excessive.
Calnen is requesting his conviction be thrown out, or at the very least, have a new judge-only trial ordered.
He is currently serving his sentence at a maximum security prison in Renous, N.B.
