Durant convicted in sex workers’ slayings

Updated After seven days of deliberation, a jury in Welland found Michael Durant guilty of two counts of first degree murder.

Durant killed 32-year old Diane Dimitri in 2003 after smashing her head with a hammer, and then dumping her in a ditch with the help of his then-wife. More than two years later he attacked 22-year old Casey Chihocki and dumped her body in a Niagara Falls field. Both women lived a high risk lifestyle, working in the sex trade.

The jury delivered their verdicts around 3:30 this afternoon.