Woman accused of robbing taxi driver waiting to deal with charges

By Delon Shurtz on June 24, 2021.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDdshurtz@lethbridgeherald.com

A Lethbridge woman accused of robbing a taxi driver and stealing his car, is still waiting to deal with her charges some 19 months later.
Kimberly Mae Eagle Speaker is charged with robbery, assault with a weapon, uttering threats, theft of a vehicle, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose and breach of a recognizance, stemming from an incident in November 2019.
Eagle Speaker’s matter was in Lethbridge provincial court this week, during which an agent for the defence asked for an adjournment and said the woman’s lawyer needs more time to speak to the accused before she will be ready to enter pleas to the charges.
Although Eagle Speaker’s charges have been in court 30 times since she was charged, Judge Jerry LeGrandeur consented to another adjournment but said he hoped a step would be taken.
At about 7:40 a.m. Nov. 11, 2019, a police officer was flagged down by an injured man in the Tim Hortons parking lot on the westside. The man said he had been robbed by two women, who then drove off in his taxi cab.
The taxi driver had been dispatched to pick up a customer at 7-Eleven on 13 Street North, and after he arrived two women got into the cab. While they were driving, the woman in the front seat threatened the driver with a knife, and said the woman in the back was armed with a gun. The driver stopped the vehicle, and after a brief struggle managed to escape. The women stole the cab, as well as cash, a computer tablet and cellphone belonging to the driver, who was treated by EMS for non-life-threatening injuries.
The taxi was abandoned in a northside alley shortly afterward, but police followed two sets of footprints to a residence in the 2000 block of 13 Avenue North. One of the suspects was arrested without incident after returning to the home a short time later, and the second suspect was arrested without incident on 5 Avenue and Mayor Magrath Drive North.
Co-accused Jessica Mae Eagle Speaker is charged with robbery, uttering threats, motor vehicle theft and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose. She is scheduled to stand trial next January.

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