Christopher Watcheston, seen in January 2008, is appealing his murder conviction and life sentence. (CBC)The man convicted of raping and murdering a Calgary mother of five in January 2008 is appealing his conviction.

In April, 24-year-old Christopher Watcheston was convicted of first-degree murder in the sexual assault and slaying of Arcelie Laoagan.

Watcheston followed Laoagan, 41, from the Franklin LRT station on Jan. 17, 2008 to a pathway where he raped and killed her.

Watcheston testified that as Laoagan tried to call on her cellphone for help, he kicked her at least four times with his steel-toed work boots.

He was drunk and high on the hallucinogenic herb, salvia, when he mistook Laoagan for his own mother and followed her, he testified. He said he was having an out-of-body experience when he sexually assaulted Laoagan.

Arcelie Laoagan worked two jobs in the hopes of bringing her husband and five sons to Canada from the Philippines. (CBC)But a drug expert testified salvia's effects would have worn off by the time of the assault.

Watcheston was sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for at least 25 years. He filed his appeal the same month he was convicted.

At the time of her death, Laoagan was in the middle of applying to sponsor her husband and five sons to join her in Canada from the Philippines.