Judge sets date for bribery trial of retired city police officer and wife

A Calgary judge said Friday the trial of a retired city cop in connection with an alleged bribery scheme will be set despite attempts by defence lawyers to delay the case.

Court of Queen’s Bench Justice David Gates refused to delay setting what is expected to be a fourweek hearing.

Former Calgary police officer Stephen Charles Walton is charged along with his wife, Heather, and Kenneth Robert Carter in connection with allegations they criminally harassed Carter’s ex-wife, Akele Taylor.

Walton is also charged with offering a bribe, mishandling a firearm, and perjury, while his wife is accused of offering a bribe and handling a firearm in a manner contrary to regulation. Carter faces an additional charge of perjury in connection with a family law matter.

Two city cops and another retired officer are already set to go to trial beginning Feb. 5, 2018, in connection with the allegations.

Const. Bryan Allan Morton, Sgt. Bradford Robert McNish, and retired cop Anthony John Braile are charged with accepting a cash bribe and other charges.

Gates noted the earliest time period a four-week trial can be set in Court of Queen’s Bench is 2018.

Both defence lawyer Alain Hep- ner, who represents both Waltons but will allow other counsel to represent the wife at trial, and Hersh Wolch, who acts for Carter, wanted to delay setting a hearing date.

Wolch said he is still awaiting for additional disclosure and noted the Crown is now asking initial disclosure be returned temporarily because privileged information was inadvertently included on the hard drive.

Calgary Crown prosecutor Iwona Kuklicz, speaking on behalf of the Edmonton lawyers who will be handling the case, said the new disclosure is being prepared and counsel will get their hard drives returned once they’re vetted.

Wolch also said he expects to make several pretrial motions, which may include an application to have the charges stayed because of undue delay.

The trio will face a four-week trial beginning Sept. 10, 2018.