No bail for man facing multiple charges

By Lethbridge Herald on April 25, 2023.

Delon Shurtz
Lethbridge Herald

With occasional shakes of his head and exasperated sighs, it was apparent Robert Duane Vincent didn’t like the way his bail hearing was going last week in Lethbridge court of justice. And for good reason.

The Crown was adamantly opposed to Vincent’s release, while his lawyer had suggested he could be released on certain conditions, including house arrest.

When the bail hearing concluded, however, Justice Kristin Ailsby detained the accused, and the matter was adjourned to May 1.

Vincent’s bail hearing was a reverse onus, which means the presumption is that the accused ought to be detained while awaiting trial unless defence can demonstrate to the court that the accused should not be denied bail by showing there is no just cause for detention. Normally the onus is on the Crown to show why an accused person should not be granted bail. Publishing evidence and details about the alleged offences as they were presented during the bail hearing are prohibited by a publication ban.

Vincent is charged with uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm, aggravated assault, assault with a weapon, assaulting/choking, theft of a vehicle, discharge a firearm with intent to injure, use of a firearm while committing an offence, careless use/storage of a firearm, pointing a firearm, unauthorized possession of a firearm, knowingly possessing an unauthorized firearm, possession of a firearm while prohibited, robbery with a firearm, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, and mischief causing damage.

Lethbridge police reported that at about 6:26 a.m. on March 20 they responded to a 911 call that a man was assaulted in his home on Rutgers Crescent West. The victim was taken to the hospital and treated for a gunshot wound.

Investigators determined the 54-year-old victim confronted his ex-girlfriend and another man, and following a brief verbal exchange was shot by the woman and physically assaulted by the man. The two assailants then fled in the victim’s truck. The truck was recovered a short distance away, and two suspects were arrested without incident later in day. Police also seized a firearm.

Kristina Hatcher, 38, is charged with aggravated assault, assault with a weapon, assault/choking, theft of a vehicle, discharging a firearm with intent to injure, use of a firearm while committing an offence, careless use/storage of a firearm, pointing a firearm, unauthorized possession of a firearm, possession of a firearm knowing possession is unauthorized, robbery with a firearm, mischief causing damage under $5,000, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, and uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm.

Hatcher was also detained following a separate bail hearing last week. Her next court appearance is set for May 12.

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