A Thunder Bay man was found guilty of second-degree murder Thursday in the 2009 death of Edgar Marion after making a jailhouse confession to police.
Leif Hobson entered a guilty plea to the charges of second-degree murder, indignity to human remains, stealing property and intentionally causing damage by fire Thursday afternoon at the Superior Court of Justice.
The investigation began when police found Marion’s car and his burned remains in the Shuniah Mines area in July 2009.
The court heard Hobson made a cautioned statement to Staff Sgt. Derek West of the Thunder Bay Police Service on Feb. 13, 2013 at the Thunder Bay District Jail.
West was the investigating officer on the case and he received a request from Hobson to speak with him.
According to the agreed statement of facts, Hobson and Marion, 19- and 66-years old at the time respectively, were friends in July 2009. Hobson was helping the victim sell his Oxycocet pills that he had a prescription for.
Hobson had been arrested on the weekend of July 4, 2009 and was released from custody on July 7. He was ordered to live with his girlfriend, who was concerned about Hobson’s affiliation with Marion.
Hobson believed Marion had shared information with his girlfriend and her mother and went to confront him about it on July 8, 2009.
The confrontation became heated and Marion became upset thinking that Hobson wanted to change their drug dealing arrangement. Hobson assured the victim he was still loyal.
Hobson tried to leave the apartment but noticed Marion had his hand in his pocket. Hobson was worried Marion either had a knife in his pocket or a cell phone. He feared Marion was prepared to call connections who would come after him.
Without trying to flee or get by Marion, Hobson punched the victim, knocking him unconscious.
When Marion regained consciousness, the two men briefly argued and then Marion tripped Hobson as he tried to leave.
In his statement, Hobson said he became angry, turned around and beat down Marion. He hit him with his fists and smashed his face and head with a wooden knife block.
Hobson knew the victim was seriously injured and sat on the couch and watched Marion lay in a pool of blood. Marion asked ‘why?’ and died shortly afterwards.
The post-mortem report states Marion died of blunt force injury to the head and face. The estimated time of death is between 1 and 2:30 a.m. on July 9.
Hobson wrapped up the victim’s body in a blanket and carried it to the victim’s car. The accused then took a television, computer, cell phone, DVD player, TV stand, fire extinguisher, baseball cap and cash from the apartment and put it in the trunk of the car.
Hobson took the vehicle, picked up a friend, known to the courts as S.D., and obtained two jerry cans of gasoline. He returned to Marion’s apartment and set it on fire.
Hobson and S.D. drove the vehicle, with the body and stolen property to the Shuniah Mines area. They left the stolen property in the bush and drove towards the bike trails in the area.
Hobson propelled the vehicle down an embankment, moved Marion’s body to the trunk and used the second can of gasoline to set the car on fire.
Hobson and S.D. then walked to Trowbridge Falls campgrounds and called a cab.
Hobson was arrested on July 13, 2009 for break of undertaking for failing to live at his girlfriend’s residence.
When Hobson was processed at the police station, his shoes were seized. Police noticed blood on the heel of his right shoe. A DNA analysis led to the conclusion that the blood belonged to Marion.
A letter of apology to the Marion family from Hobson was submitted to the court.
“I feel there are no words for what happened back in July 2009 that would adequatly [sic] fit or feel sincere enough and a simple ‘I’m sorry’ doesn’t cut it,” the letter reads.
Hobson says in the letter he wants closure for Marion’s death and he prays the family will forgive him.
“I’ll live the rest of my life knowing I killed my own friend,” he says.
Hobson also says the Marion family deserves to know what happened and that he’ll never forgive himself or forget Edgar as the friend he remembers him to be.
Sentencing is scheduled for July 4.
