Preliminary hearing set for accused killers

By Delon Shurtz on January 7, 2021.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDdshurtz@lethbridgeherald.com

Two men accused of killing another man last spring are finally set to have a preliminary hearing, but not until later this year.

During a brief apearance Wednesday in Lethbridge provincial court, the week-long preliminary hearing for Robert White Cow and Jason James Crane Chief was scheduled for June 21-25. A preliminary hearing is typically held to present evidence and determine whether the accused should be committed to stand trial.

Although the hearing is set to run in June, the Crown and defence are still waiting to receive the medical examiner’s report and cause of death. Crown Prosecutor Clayton Giles advised court the report, depending on when it arrives, could “interrupt” the preliminary hearing, but the hearing can be rescheduled if necessary.

The two accused, who remain in custody and previously elected to be tried by a judge and jury, were charged with second-degree murder in May of last year 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, 28, was arrested May 1, four days after police found the victim’s body. White Cow, 33, 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 being consumed at the social gathering.

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