Prince George, B.C.- The BC Court of Appeal has decided to grant an extension to the normal time limit for launching an appeal in the case of  convicted murderer Cody Alan Legebokoff.

( at right, artist’s rendering of Legebokoff as he testified at his trial in 2014-image 250News archive)

Normally,  the time limit for launching an appeal is 30 days from the time of a first degree murder conviction.  In Legebokoff’s case, that clock started ticking when the jury returned with a verdict  of  guilty  in mid September of last year.  His legal counsel filed  an application  in February of this year, asking the Court to extend that time limit.

The Court of Appeal made its decision on that extension late last week.

Both Crown and Defense counsel are now proceeding  with the necessary steps that must be followed before an appeal hearing takes place. While the Court has not yet confirmed it will hear the  appeal, both sides are proceeding on the basis that  an appeal hearing will take place.

Last September, a jury found Cody Alan Legebokoff guilty of first degree murder in the deaths of Loren Leslie, Cynthia Maas, Natasha Lyn Montgomery and Jill Stuchenko. He was sentenced to life, with no chance of parole for 25 years.

The appeal will focus on Legebokoff’s right to Counsel of his choice, and issues in the ruling on the application to have the multiple murder trial moved to Vancouver.

While there has been no indication of when (or if) an appeal  may be heard,  it likely would not happen until next spring. While it is possible the appeal could be heard in Prince George, it will be up to the Chief Justice of the BC Court of Appeal  to decide if that will be the case.