Dates set for shooting trial

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

LETHBRIDGE HERALDdshurtz@lethbridgeherald.com

A Lethbridge woman accused of shooting her ex-boyfriend earlier this year is getting ready to stand trial, but not for several more months.

Kristina Hatcher goes to trial April 16-19 and 22, 2024 on more than a dozen criminal charges. The trial dates were set Tuesday in Lethbridge court of justice where Hatcher appeared by CCTV from the Lethbridge Correctional Centre, where she has been in remand custody since her arrest earlier in the year.

Hatcher, who is serving a sentence on other charges, pleaded not guilty in August and elected to be tried in Alberta Court of Justice.

Hatcher is charged with aggravated assault, assault with a weapon, assault/choking, theft of a vehicle, discharging a firearm with intent to injure, use of a firearm while committing an offence, careless use/storage of a firearm, pointing a firearm, unauthorized possession of a firearm, possession of a firearm knowing possession is unauthorized, robbery with a firearm, mischief causing damage under $5,000, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, and uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm.

At about 6:26 a.m. on March 20 Lethbridge police responded to a 911 call that a man had been assaulted in his home on Rutgers Crescent West.

Police reported the 54-year-old victim confronted his ex-girlfriend and another man, and following a brief verbal exchange was shot by the woman and physically assaulted by the man. The two assailants then fled in the victim’s truck, which was recovered a short distance away. Two suspects were arrested without incident later in the day, and police also seized a firearm.

The victim was treated at the hospital for a gunshot wound, and was reported at the time to be in stable condition.

Robert Duane Vincent of Claresholm, is also accused of offences stemming from the same incident and is facing numerous criminal charges. Vincent was denied bail in court of justice in April, and pleaded not guilty to his charges in August. He is scheduled to have a detention review next week in Lethbridge Court of King’s Bench.

Follow @DShurtzHerald on Twitter