Trial date confirmed for Good Rider drug case

A trial for a woman charged in connection to drug overdoses on the Blood Reserve more than two years ago has been set for next year, even though she still doesn’t have a lawyer.

Jessica Good Rider said Monday during a hearing in Lethbridge Court of Queen’s Bench that she had contacted Legal Aid some time ago, but was still waiting for a response.

“They haven’t appointed me one, yet,” Good Rider told the judge.

The judge decided to set a trial date, anyway, for April 1620, 2018, when a co-accused, Charles Shouting, is scheduled for trial.

Shouting, 36, and Good Rider, 28, are charged with Bobby Weasel Head in relation to three overdoses in Standoff from a suspected potent batch of drugs being sold as Oxy 80. The drugs are being blamed for the death of Roxanne Nona Blood, 41, and Timothy Glen Eagle Speaker, 46, who were found dead in a Standoff home.

Another person believed to be at the birthday gathering had been treated earlier in the day and survived. There was also a fourth overdose, but police said it was not related to the tragedy at the party.

Shouting and Good Rider are each charged with criminal negligence causing death and drug possession for the purpose of trafficking. Weasel Head, 43, is charged with two counts of manslaughter and one count of drug trafficking relating to the drug overdoses in March 2015. He is scheduled to stand trial Sept. 11-22.

Good Rider returns to court Aug. 28 at which time a date for a pre-trial conference may be scheduled. The court also hopes the adjournment will give the accused time to retain a lawyer.

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