By Canadian Press

Lawyer for man accused in deaths of Calgary mother, daughter wants due process

Jul 20, 2016 | 1:05 AM

CALGARY — The lawyer for a man accused of killing a Calgary woman and her five-year-old daughter says he’s worried the case will be tried in the media and not in a courtroom.

“We do have a principle in this country that people are tried in a courtroom before a jury of their peers and we would like that to be the way this proceeds,” defence lawyer Gavin Wolch told reporters after his client, Edward Downey, made a brief appearance by closed-circuit television on Wednesday.

Police announced first-degree murder charges against Downey last Thursday in the deaths of Sara Baillie and Taliyah Marsman.

Baillie, who was 34, was found dead in her northwest Calgary home on July 11 and an Amber Alert was issued for Taliyah. The little girl’s body was found three days later in a rural area east of Calgary.

Downey looked straight ahead during his brief appearance and walked briskly out of the room once it was over.

Week In Review

Week in Review: Week of March 30

2h ago

SOUND OFF

SOUND OFF: Removing bathroom doors at Barriere Secondary increases safety concerns

Apr 02, 2026

Looped In

LOOPED IN WITH NIKKI OMEN: April 2, 2026

Apr 02, 2026

Wolch said he wants to move quickly to trial.

He added that he is concerned about the amount of information about his client that’s been in the news — from details about his criminal past to images of him being led by police officers in a blue jumpsuit.

“I can tell you that he was not on any form of parole or release at the time” he was charged, Wolch said. “We want this to be something that is tried in court with due process.”

Downey’s next court appearance is set for Aug. 3.

Police have said Downey knew Baillie and Taliyah, but have not said how.

A memorial service is to be held for mother and daughter on Thursday.

An obituary for the pair describes Baillie as a “dedicated mother with an unflinching love for Taliyah.”

“They were inseparable and spent all their time together dancing, playing and laughing. Taliyah had just learned to ride a bike and was so proud to have completed kindergarten. A funny girl, Taliyah never left home without her sparkly purse full of lotions and lipsticks.

“Both Sara and Taliyah were the light and the heart of their families; we cannot imagine how to go on.”

Lauren Krugel, The Canadian Press

Note to readers: This is a corrected story. A previous version said the jumpsuit images were taken on the night of his arrest.