Girl's mother calls murder charges 'bittersweet'

Meika Jordan's mothersays she feels "bittersweet" about second-degree murder charges laid in the death ofthe six-year-old.

Meika'sfather,Spencer Lee Jordan, and herstepmother, Marie Eve Magoon, have been charged with one count each of second-degree murder in the girl'sNovemberdeath.

The coupleappeared in a Calgary courtroom briefly Tuesday morning via closed circuit television, wherethey told ajudge they don't have lawyers yet and hope to get legal aid.

Outside the courthouse, the girl's biological mother Kyla Guttman praised police for the investigation that led to the arrests Sundaynight.

"Its [a]very bittersweet feeling," she said. "It's nice to finally know they are being looked at and that finallysome things are going to start tomake progress here. It's very difficultstill at this point."

Also outside court was Jordan's fatherKen Jordan. He wiped away tears as hedescribedfeeling numb andin disbelief about the charges laid in his granddaughter's death.

"Justice for her could mean my son could go to jail. I know. Let me ask you this. Could you live with that?"

Meika was in her father and stepmother's care at the time of her injuries. She died the next day in hospital with Guttman at her side.

Family members initially told police the girl fell down a flight of stairs at the home on Temple Drive N.E., but policedeclared her death a homicide when an autopsy discovered she died from multiple blunt force trauma. Earlier this month, police saidthey believe Meika may have received other injuries prior to her death, including a severe burn to the palm of her hand and fingers.

Police haven't commented on the motive in this case, saying it was before the courts.