Second-degree murder suspects make appearance

By Jensen, Randy on September 2, 2020.

Lethbridge Herald

The lawyers for two men charged with second-degree murder will hold a preliminary pre-trial meeting with a provincial court justice and the Crown on Sept. 9, and will then return to court to fix a trial date on Sept. 23.

The two men have opted for trial by judge and jury, and have pleaded not guilty to the charges against them.

Justin Robert White Cow, 33, and co-accused Jason James Crane Chief, 27, made an appearance together in Lethbridge provincial court by closed-circuit TV on Tuesday from the Lethbridge Correctional Centre, where they have been held since being charged.

The co-accused have retained different lawyers to represent them, but the two legal teams are working in co-ordination with each other in the lead-up to the trial.

White Cow and Crane Chief were charged with second-degree murder in May 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 confirmed a weapon was used during the fight and drugs were consumed at the social gathering.

The murder was the city’s second this year.

– With files from Delon Shurtz

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