Accused in murder case plead guilty to lesser charges
Two people charged with first-degree murder in connection to the death of a man who was shot in the head and whose body was left in a burning Jeep have pleaded guilty to lesser offences.
Shane Terry Tym, 30, and Sarah Jane Posthumus, 31, were both arrested out of province after an extensive RCMP investigation into the late December 2014 death of Adrian Nicholas Gregory, 30.
Gregory’s body was discovered in a burning late-1990s green Jeep in an industrial park off 34 Street early on Dec. 30, 2014. The pair also faced attempted murder charges for injuries sustained by Jeremy Pershaw, who was with Gregory when he died.
However, both accused entered guilty pleas to lesser charges. On Friday, Tym pleaded guilty to manslaughter and aggravated assault and, on Monday, Posthumus pleaded guilty to accessory to manslaughter after the fact.
After accepting Posthumus’ guilty plea to the accessory charge, Court of Queen’s Bench Justice Kevin Feehan found her not guilty of first-degree murder and attempted murder.
According to an agreed statement of facts entered with the court, Tym, of Chilliwack, B.C., and Posthumus, of Tara, Ont., drove out to the location west of Sherwood Park together to meet Gregory. Court heard that Posthumus sent messages to Gregory earlier in the day, saying she wanted to pay him money she owed him for drugs and to buy cocaine from him.
Court heard that Posthumus believed Tym had money to pay for cocaine when they met with Gregory and Pershaw, that she did not know he had a shotgun with him, and that she was intoxicated when they arrived at the meeting spot.
Tym fired the gun through the Jeep’s window, hitting Gregory in the head, then the vehicle was set on fire, court heard. Cocaine that Gregory had with him was taken, and Posthumus later tried to sell some of it.
Several members of Gregory’s family attended the hearing Monday and watched Posthumus enter her guilty plea.
Gregory was from Ontario, having grown up on a farm in Westport, north of Kingston. He moved to Edmonton about three years before his death to work in the oil and gas industry, and was passionate about motorcycle stunt driving. He organized motorcycle events through his company, Ace Wheelies.
Posthumus is expected to be sentenced Wednesday morning, while Tym is scheduled to next appear in court Friday.