Manslaughter suspect to be tried by judge, jury

The suspect in a 20-month-old manslaughter case has chosen to be tried by a judge and jury, and to have a preliminary hearing.

Jimmy Lynn Bad Man made the election Friday in provincial court, where he appeared by closed-circuit TV from the Lethbridge Correctional Centre. His matter was adjourned to March 17 when a date for the preliminary hearing may be set.

A preliminary hearing is generally held to determine whether there is enough evidence to warrant a trial. Evidence and testimony presented during the hearing is usually subject to a publication ban.

The RCMP and Blood Tribe police arrested the accused Feb. 4 in Cardston and charged him with the death of Sara-Jean Big Sorrel Horse in 2015.

Blood Tribe police found Big Sorrel Horse about 11:30 a.m. June 27, 2015 in the town of Standoff. She was outside and unresponsive and taken to hospital where she was pronounced dead.

An autopsy determined she had been deliberately killed, and the RCMP South Major Crime Unit Blood Tribe Police Service began an investigation.

In addition to manslaughter, Bad Man, of no fixed-address, is charged with aggravated assault stemming from an unrelated investigation in Cardston in January. Lawyer Mansoor Khan said he still requires disclosure on that charge and it was adjourned to March 17, as well.

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