Sign up for the battlefordsNOW newsletter

Guilty verdict to all charges in murder conspiracy trial

Jun 6, 2016 | 6:57 AM

Two lovers charged with conspiring to kill their spouses have been found guilty on all charges.

Curtis Vey and Angela Nicholson were embroiled in a two week trial at Prince Albert’s Court of Queen’s Bench. Each was charged with two counts of conspiracy to commit murder. The guilty verdict was read out after nearly 30 hours of deliberation on June 5.

Nicholson’s two daughters immediately burst out crying when the decision was read aloud.

Her lawyer Ron Piche said Nicholson deserved better than a guilty verdict, saying she was “an outstanding mother and a hardworking individual….she was convinced in her mind that this would be the beginning of the end of this horrible nightmare she’s been suffering.”

During trial the jury heard how Nicholson’s estranged husband Jim Taylor was emotional abusive. They separated in 2009 but their divorce has not been finalized.”

Vey’s lawyer Aaron Fox said Vey was “clearly upset with what’s happened, as you would expect.”

Vey declined comment.

It was Vey’s wife Brigitte Vey who discovered the conspiracy. Suspecting her husband of having an affair, she began recording him at home. On July 1, 2013, she heard on tape Vey and Nicholson talking about a plan to murder her and Jim Taylor.

The plan was to drug Brigitte’s coffee and set fire to her house with her inside. Taylor was to be drugged, taken to an abandoned building, and burned.

Sentencing is the next step of the case.

Crown prosecutor Lori O’Connor said it’s appropriate for Vey and Nicholson to remain out of custody on previous bail conditions. 

“They have no criminal record, they’ve been out of custody since summer 2013 and we haven’t had any breaches of their court orders,” O’Connor said.

The maximum sentence Vey and Nicholson face is life imprisonment, but given the uniqueness of the case anything is possible.

O’Connor said the guilty verdict may be precedent setting.

Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 2 at 10 a.m. at Prince Albert Court of Queen’s Bench.

 

ssterritt@panow.com

On Twitter: @spencer_sterrit