Freihaut taken into custody
ACCUSED PLEADS NOT GUILTY TO CHARGE OF SECOND-DEGREE MURDER IN DEATH OF HER MOTHER
ACalgary woman accused of killing her elderly mother in Lethbridge early last year has been placed in custody while she waits for her trial to start next year.
Lisa Freihaut attended her arraignment in Lethbridge Court of Queen’s Bench Monday and was taken into custody after her husband was allowed to revoke the $100,000 surety he provided last June to secure her bail.
The accused, through her lawyer Andre Ouellette, pleaded not guilty to a single charge of second-degree murder, and a four-week trial before a judge and jury is set to begin Sept. 4, 2018.
Freihaut is accused of killing her 78-year-old mother, Irene Carter, more than a year ago. Police reported that Carter was stabbed during a physical altercation with another woman, and her body was found inside her home in the 300 block of Normandy Road South on Jan. 17, 2016 after family members, who couldn’t reach her for several days, went to check on her. During a news conference April 7, 2016, at the Calgary police headquarters, Freihaut made an emotional plea urging anyone with information about her mother’s death to contact police. She was charged later the same month.
Freihaut was ordered to stand trial following a preliminary hearing in April. Judge A. Lefever also ruled certain statements the accused made to the police will be allowed at the actual trial.
Following Monday’s hearing Ouellette pointed out that although the trial will not be held until later next year, the time Freihaut spends in custody in the meantime will count toward her sentence if she is found guilty.