New trial ordered for Alberta man convicted of killing common-law partner
Advertisement
Read this article for free:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
To continue reading, please subscribe:
Monthly Digital Subscription
$1 per week for 24 weeks*
- Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
- Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
- Access News Break, our award-winning app
- Play interactive puzzles
*Billed as $4.00 plus GST every four weeks. After 24 weeks, price increases to the regular rate of $19.95 plus GST every four weeks. Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.
Monthly Digital Subscription
$4.99/week*
- Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
- Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
- Access News Break, our award-winning app
- Play interactive puzzles
*Billed as $19.95 plus GST every four weeks. Cancel any time.
To continue reading, please subscribe:
Add Free Press access to your Brandon Sun subscription for only an additional
$1 for the first 4 weeks*
*Your next subscription payment will increase by $1.00 and you will be charged $16.99 plus GST for four weeks. After four weeks, your payment will increase to $23.99 plus GST every four weeks.
Read unlimited articles for free today:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
EDMONTON – Alberta’s top court has ordered a new trial for a man sentenced to life in the beating death of his common-law partner.
Appeal Court judges have overturned Ryan Applegarth’s 2023 conviction of second-degree murder in the death of 26-year-old Chantelle Firingstoney.
They say the trial judge made no finding that Applegarth intended to kill the woman.
Firingstoney died in November 2020 at her home in Ponoka, Alta., about 95 kilometres south of Edmonton, after meeting a friend for drinks.
Court heard an autopsy found blunt-force trauma to her head, face, neck and torso, as well as a dozen broken ribs and a lacerated liver.
The Appeal Court says the Crown lacked the evidence at trial to show Applegarth intended to kill, and that a jury could have realistically reached a verdict of manslaughter.
“The Crown argues that despite the error, the case against the appellant is overwhelming. We do not agree that the Crown has met its very high burden of establishing this,” reads the Friday decision.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 22, 2026.