Adjournments for five in homicide case

By Delon Shurtz - Lethbridge Herald on July 28, 2022.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDdshurtz@lethbridgeherald.com

Five people accused in the death of a Fort Macleod man last year will be back in court next month to possibly set dates for a preliminary inquiry.

Lawyers for the accused, Richard Lavell, Miranda Turuk, Randy Giroux, Michelle Toth and Edward Goodrich, made a brief appearance this week in Lethbridge provincial court, but simply adjourned their matters until Aug. 9.

Calgary lawyer Alain Hepner said he is anxious to set dates for a preliminary inquiry, and noted the accused are deemed at this point to be tried by a judge and jury in Court of Queen’s Bench.

The judge also directed the lawyers to arrange a pre-preliminary inquiry conference in the meantime, during which the lawyers can discuss issues associated with the case and set a date for the preliminary inquiry. The date of the hearing can then be confirmed when the matters return to court on Aug. 9. The judge added if the conference cannot be held before Aug. 9, it may be possible to at least confirm an alternate date.

The five individuals are accused in the death of Lane Tailfeathers of Fort Macleod, who was reported missing on June 23, 2021. A month later Tailfeather’s remains were found in a remote area near Crowsnest Pass. RCMP investigators determined the 35-year-old man was killed in Fort Macleod between June 20 and 21 of last year.

Lavell, 43, Turuk, 28, and Giroux, 40, are charged with second-degree murder and interfering with a dead body. Toth, 37 and Goodrich, 51, are charged with accessory after the fact to murder and interfering with a dead body.

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