David Miller has been convicted of second-degree murder of Debra Novacluse at this Super 8 Motel in Aberdeen in 2016 (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Chad Klassen

MURDER TRIAL

David Miller found guilty of second-degree murder at Aberdeen motel

Jul 31, 2020 | 12:59 PM

KAMLOOPS — A B.C. Supreme Court has determined David Miller is responsible for killing a Fraser Valley woman in the Aberdeen area of Kamloops in 2016. However, Justice Madam Marguerite Church found Miller guilty of second-degree murder, not first-degree murder as crown lawyers had argued for.

Miller killed 52-year-old Debra Novacluse in the early morning hours of Aug. 27, 2016 at the Super 8 Motel on Hugh Allan Drive. Novacluse was a close friend of Miller’s from Abbotsford. She travelled to Kamloops to visit Miller on the evening of Aug. 26 before her death the next morning.

In her decision Friday (July 31), Justice Madam Church said there was intent from Miller to kill Novacluse, who was found underneath the mattress tied up in a sleeping bag. However, she couldn’t connect an alleged sexual assault of Novacluse to her death.

Crown argued for the first-degree murder charge due to a sexual assault it believed directly led to the death of Novacluse. Among the multiple injuries Novacluse suffered at the hands of Miller, there was also vaginal tearing, but in her decision Church determined it may have occurred before the events that led up to her death.

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Church ultimately decided Miller is guilty of second-degree murder.

Miller inflicted several injuries on Novacluse, who suffered blunt-force trauma to her head, neck and ribs. According to testimony, Miller engaged in a confrontation with Novacluse on the morning of Aug. 27. Court was told Miller pinned her to the bed and was choking her. He believed it was just “rough sex,” but Justice Madam Church said the story was “not believable.” She noted it was the argument that led to Novacluse’s injuries.

Justice Madam Church added she didn’t believe Miller was intoxicated and that he either intended to kill her or knew the injuries would lead to Novacluse’s death. However, because the murder did not occur as a direct result of sexual assault, Church could not convict him of first-degree murder.

A date will be set in the future to determine the sentence of Miller. He remains in custody.