BARRIE, Ontario, Nov. 15 (UPI) -- A Canadian woman was convicted Monday of first-degree murder for drowning her two young daughters in their bathtub.
Elaine Campione's lawyer argued she was not criminally responsible for the October 2006 deaths of Serena, 3, and Sophia, 19 months, because of insanity, Postmedia News reported. Campione called 911 to say she had drowned the girls.
The verdict in Barrie, Ontario, came after several days of jury deliberations.
On Thursday, the jury asked for a definition of "morally wrong," a phrase Justice Alfred Stong had used in his instructions.
The jury also asked for a definition and review of "balance of probabilities." Stong repeated that the defense had to prove Campione was not criminally responsible on a simple "balance of probabilities," rather than "beyond a reasonable doubt."
Campione was in a bitter custody battle with her ex-husband, Leonardo Campione. Their marriage ended with Elaine accusing her husband of years of abuse and threatening to flee with the girls to her native New Brunswick. The two were to have appeared in family court the day after the killing.
