Murder suspect makes appearance

One of two men charged with the city’s second murder of the year made a brief appearance in Lethbridge provincial court Friday.

Rylan James Twigg appeared by closed-circuit TV from the Lethbridge Correctional Centre where he has been in custody since his arrest nearly two weeks ago.

Twigg is charged with one count of seconddegree murder in connection to the death of 45year-old Kenrick Leonard First Rider, who was killed at his northside home Nov. 27.

At 7:20 a.m. Nov. 27, Lethbridge EMS attended at a home in the 1200 block of 9 Avenue North, where they found First Rider’s body. Police were contacted and determined First Rider had been involved in a verbal dispute with two other men at the home. The dispute escalated to a physical altercation in which First Rider was fatality injured.

Twigg, 23, was arrested later in the day when he arrived at the police station in connection with First Rider's death. A second man, 19-year-old Simon Danny Scout, was arrested the following day after police received some tips from the public. He is also charged with second-degree murder.

Police said Twigg is the son of the victim's girlfriend, and the victim and both accused were living together in the same house. Police had been called to the home for disturbances in the past.

During his court appearance Friday, Twigg was represented by Lethbridge lawyer Ingrid Hess, who told court she expected to be retained by the accused. The matter was then adjourned for a week. Scout is scheduled to be in court Monday.