By Shurtz, Delon on June 25, 2020.
Delon Shurtz
lethbridge herald
One of two men charged with second-degree murder has received a jail sentence for unrelated offences.
Justin Robert White Cow was sentenced Wednesday in Lethbridge provincial court to 14 days in jail after he pleaded guilty to charges of causing a disturbance, failure to comply with a release order, and failing to comply with a probation order.
Court was told White Cow was drunk and causing a disturbance in Galt Gardens Aug. 2 of last year during a performance of Shakespeare In the Park. Two members of The Watch team asked White Cow to leave, but he refused and created an even greater disturbance by screaming and swearing at The Watch members and “saying some very vile things,” explained Crown Prosecutor Bruce Ainscough.
“He got even more disturbed and angry at these Watch members, and police were called,” Ainscough said.
White Cow was on probation at the time and had been ordered not to have any contact with another man, whom he was with in the park.
White Cow also breached a release order last March prohibiting him from being intoxicated in a public place.
The accused was at the Lethbridge homeless shelter on March 27 when he stepped in front of a van belonging to the Diversion Outreach Team while the driver was dealing with other individuals. That led to a confrontation and police had to be called. White Cow was extremely intoxicated at the time.
Although sentenced to 14 days in jail, he was given credit for time he’s spent in custody since he and Jason James Crane Chief were arrested last month and charged with second-degree murder.
White Cow, 33, and 27-year-old Crane Chief were charged after police responded to a report of an injured man at an apartment building in the 1200 block of 4 Avenue South. Police and EMS found the body of a 43-year-old man inside one of the units. Crane Chief was arrested May 1, four days after police found the victim’s body. White Cow was arrested on May 5.
During the evening of April 26 the victim had been inside his apartment socializing with acquaintances when a fight broke out. When a friend arrived at the victim’s apartment the following day the man was unresponsive and his friend called for help.
Police have confirmed a weapon was used during the fight and drugs were being consumed at the social gathering.
Crane Chief is scheduled to return to court July 9, while White Cow is set to return Tuesday, ostensibly to resolve several other charges, including assault with a weapon.
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Why is this guy, charged with murder, out in public causing even more trouble? He should be held until the murder charges are heard. Our judges are morons.