Autopsy report in Tailfeathers homicide delivered to defence

By Delon Shurtz - Lethbridge Herald on December 10, 2022.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDdshurtz@lethbridgeherald.com

After waiting months to receive an autopsy report relating to the death of a Fort Macleod man in 2021, lawyers for five accused finally have the information and are now waiting to schedule a preliminary hearing.

The matter for Miranda Mae Turuk, Richard William Lavell, Randy Lee Giroux, Michelle Lee Toth and Edward Alexander Goodrich was in Lethbridge provincial court Friday. Court was told the next step is to schedule a pre-trial conference, at which time a five to 10-day preliminary hearing would also be set for a later date.

It’s been more than a year since the body of Lane Tailfeathers was discovered in a remote area of southwest Alberta, and about six months since the five individuals were charged with his death.

Three of the accused, Turuk, Lavell and Giroux, are charged with second-degree murder and interfering with a dead body. Toth and Goodrich are charged with accessory after the fact to murder and interfering with a dead body.

Tailfeathers was reported missing on June 23, 2021, and a month later his 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.

Although the accused are jointly charged and will likely proceed with a preliminary hearing before having their matters heard in Court of King’s Bench, Toth’s lawyer, Andre Ouellette, said he has requested to separate his client from the rest and have his case heard in provincial court.

The next court hearing for those charged is set for Jan. 27, to allow time for the lawyers to schedule the pre-trial conference.

Follow @DShurtzHerald on Twitter