Suspect in cannabis store robbery set for trial in 2023

By Delon Shurtz - Lethbridge Herald on November 29, 2022.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDdshurtz@lethbridgeherald.com

A 39-year-old man accused of robbing a Lethbridge cannabis store more than a year ago is set to stand trial early in the new year.

Hank Lee Tremblay will stand trial for five days in three different courtrooms next January and February in Lethbridge provincial court. The trial is scheduled to run Jan. 12 and 13 in courtroom 2, Jan. 31 in courtroom 7, and Feb. 9 in courtroom 3.

The dates were confirmed Friday during a brief hearing in provincial court, at which Tremblay, who is in custody at the Edmonton Remand Centre, was not required to attend.

Tremblay is charged with robbery, assault with a weapon and possession of a weapon dangerous to the public. The charges stem from an incident just before 8:30 p.m. on Sept. 29, 2021 when a man armed with a knife robbed Westcan Cannabis in the 1700-block of 23 Street North.

The suspect fled but was tracked by a police dog to a residence in the 1300 block of 23 Street North, where a man was arrested without incident.

Tremblay was scheduled for a one-day trial in August, but during an earlier court hearing in April, the Crown pointed out one day would not be enough time to run the trial and it was cancelled. The matter was adjourned to May 3, at which time court was told a pre-trial conference had been scheduled for May 19 so a trial date could be determined. When the case returned on May 24 to confirm the trial date, Calgary lawyer Spencer Sikora said he had lost contact with his client, and a warrant was issued for Tremblay’s arrest.

Sikora was permitted to withdraw as Tremblay’s lawyer in September after he told the judge there had been a breakdown in the solicitor-client relationship. Tremblay complained his case was taking too long to resolve and said he was expected to admit to things to which he didn’t want to admit. He said he had been sitting in remand custody for several months even though he was promised a speedy trial.

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