Discussions ‘productive’ on case of accused killer

By Delon Shurtz - Lethbridge Herald on July 11, 2023.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDdshurtz@lethbridgeherald.com

A 59-year-old Lethbridge man accused of stabbing his wife to death two days after Christmas, made his first appearance in Lethbridge Court of King’s Bench since choosing in June to be tried by the higher court rather than by Alberta Court of Justice, formerly provincial court.

David Albert Dragland appeared in court Monday by CCTV from the Lethbridge Correctional Centre, where he has been remanded since his arrest Dec. 27, 2022.

An agent for Dragland’s lawyer requested an adjournment, and told court the Crown and defence need more time to continue discussing the case.

“The discussions are productive,” Lethbridge lawyer Vincent Guinan assured the judge.

Dragland is charged with one count of first-degree murder, which carries a mandatory lifetime prison sentence with parole eligibility after 25 years.

At about 11 p.m. on Dec. 27 police responded to a disturbance involving a man and woman at a home in the 2500 block of 13 Avenue North. When police arrived a man walked out of the home and was arrested without incident.

Police found a critically injured woman inside the home and began First Aid until EMS arrived and took over. The 59-year-old victim, identified as Shelley Dragland, sustained multiple stab wounds and died at the scene.

Police determined the man and woman had been together in the home when the man grabbed a knife from the kitchen and stabbed the victim several times.

Dragland’s next court hearing is scheduled for Aug. 14.

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