Further delay in manslaughter case

By Delon Shurtz - Lethbridge Herald on December 1, 2022.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDdshurtz@lethbridgeherald.com

A Calgary lawyer who earlier in November adjourned a manslaughter case so he could receive disclosure from the Crown’s office, has been granted another adjournment to allow him time to review the information.

Jillian Williamson, who attended Lethbridge provincial court Wednesday for lawyer Jim Lutz, confirmed Lutz received the disclosure, but he needs several more weeks to review it.

“There are 12 binders of disclosure that he has to go through,” Williamson told the judge.

The accused, Cullen Drake Tailfeathers, was scheduled to stand trial in January of next year, but it was cancelled after Tailfeathers and his previous lawyer parted ways and Lutz went on the record last month.

During a court hearing on Nov. 9, Calgary lawyer Balfour Der explained there had been an “irreparable” breakdown in the lawyer-client relationship, and he was allowed to withdraw.

Tailfeathers, 27, pleaded not guilty in August 2021 to charges of manslaughter and break and enter to commit an indictable offence.

Linden Blair Grier, 33, of Brocket, Alta., was found dead in a home in Fort Macleod May 24, 2021. Police were called to the residence at 2:24 a.m., following a report that a man had been injured. Attempts to save the man’s life were unsuccessful.

Tailfeathers, of Fort Macleod, was arrested three days later.

The matter is scheduled to return to court on Dec. 23.

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