Court of Appeal of Alberta upholds guilty verdict of man in killing of estranged wife – Edmonton [Video]

Alberta’s top court has dismissed an appeal by a man found guilty of stabbing his estranged wife 17 times.

The Court of Appeal of Alberta says a trial judge made no errors when he convicted Robert Dean Clifford last year of second-degree murder in the death of 31-year-old Nichole Clifford, who also used the last name McKeith.

“This was a very strong circumstantial case,” the court said in its decision released Monday.

“The trial judge carefully reviewed the critical evidence, made reasonable findings of fact and drew inferences well supported by the evidence.”

The woman’s bloodied body was found at the bottom of the basement stairs in her Wainwright home in February 2017. Court heard she was last seen alive leaving a friend’s home.

A medical examiner testified stab wounds near her neck and shoulder were likely caused by a two-edged object, like scissors. She also had cuts and bruises on her hands.

Robert Clifford’s belt was found …