Taxi robbery matter adjourned after 39 appearances in court
By Delon Shurtz on September 30, 2021.
LETHBRIDGE HERALDdshurtz@lethbridgeherald.com
A Lethbridge woman who has nearly 40 court appearances from charges that are almost two years old, has been granted another adjournment while she and her lawyer plan how to proceed with her case.
The matter for Kimberlie Rose Eagle Speaker was in Lethbridge provincial court Wednesday, where her lawyer Scott Hadford said he was having difficulty talking with his client on the phone while she is in custody. Hadford told court he will arrange to talk to her in person so they can discuss the case before returning to court Oct. 19.
Crown Prosecutor Adam Zelmer said he expected during Wednesday’s hearing to discuss dates for a pre-trial conference, which will be necessary if Eagle Speaker does not accept an early case resolution from the Crown.
“The Crown is ready to set the trial, as we have been for some time,” Zelmer told the judge.
Eagle Speaker, whose matter has been in court 39 times, 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 2019.
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 explained 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 traveling, 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 cell phone 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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A perfect example of just how bad our justice system is! What a joke! Politicians focus on getting back in ‘power’ and not passing badly needed legislation! Is there any wonder why police are so frustrated?
How much has all these appearances cost the taxpayer? Will this taxi driver ever see Justice? Probably not because the perpetrator is indigenous!