Murder suspect undergoing psychological assessment

By Delon Shurtz - Lethbridge Herald on December 20, 2022.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDdshurtz@lethbridgeherald.com

A Lethbridge man charged with second-degree murder will remain in custody at the Calgary Remand Centre while he continues to undergo a psychological assessment.

Jade Levi Trotter is being assessed at the Southern Alberta Forensic Psychiatry Centre in Calgary to determine whether there are grounds to believe he was, at the time of the alleged offence, suffering from a mental disorder that would exempt him from criminal responsibility.

The forensic assessment was ordered Oct. 24, but during a hearing Monday in Lethbridge provincial court, defence pointed out the assessment and subsequent report had not been completed and the psychiatry centre had requested an extension.

Crown Prosecutor Michael Fox pointed out the extension is necessary because of a “backlog” of cases at the centre.

Trotter, who previously elected to be tried by a Court of King’s Bench judge and jury, is charged with single counts of second-degree murder and break and enter.

Police responded to a call Feb. 8 of last year that someone was screaming for help, and arrived at an apartment building in the 1200 block of 4 Avenue South to find the body of 65-year-old Glenn Lofthouse. Police arrested Trotter the following day at a residence in the 1100 block of 11 Street South.

Police said the suspect and victim knew each other, and the murder was over a property dispute. Police also recovered a weapon they believe was used to kill Lofthouse.

Trotter was scheduled to have a two-day preliminary hearing in October, but it was cancelled after the court ordered the assessment under Section 672 of the Criminal Code. A preliminary hearing is typically held to determine whether there is enough evidence to warrant a trial.

The matter is set to return to court Feb. 22.

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