Suspect’s murder charge stands

Calgary murder suspect, [accused] will stand trial as charged, despite arguments by his lawyer the allegation should be reduced to manslaughter.  Provincial court Judge Brian Stevenson yesterday agreed with the Crown there was sufficient evidence to put a murder charge before a jury.

“I have concluded that on the evidence presented by the Crown in this inquiry that a reasonable jury...could return a verdict of guilty,” Stevenson said.   

There was a ban on publication of evidence given during a five-day preliminary inquiry.  [the accused] is charged with second-degree murder in connection with the slaying last Oct. 12. of  [a] Calgary man. He was arrested after the body of [the victim] was found in the basement suite of a residence in the 2200 block of 42 St. S.E. by police.   Two days after her son’s death, [the mother] said she didn’t know why her son was allegedly with [the accused], a former friend of her other son, at the time.  

If convicted of murder, [the accused] would automatically receive a life sentence without parole for a minimum of 10 years.  Defence lawyer David Chow said he will be seeking bail for his client before his trial before a jury in Court of Queen’s Bench. An arraignment was set for May 10, but Chow said he hopes to pre-book a trial before then, possibly in June.

2006-02-28
The Calgary Sun
By: Kevin Martin