Murder preliminary hearing ends

Two men charged with second-degree murder

Aweek-long preliminary hearing for two men accused of killing a third man during a fight late last year has concluded, but the accused don’t know yet whether they will be ordered to stand trial. The preliminary hearing for Rylan James Twigg and Simon Danny Scout concluded Monday in Lethbridge provincial court with closing arguments from Crown prosecutor Michael Fox and two defence lawyers, Ingrid Hess and Vincent Guinan. However, the matter was adjourned to Aug. 3 when Judge Eric Peterson is expected to give his decision on commital, and rule on whether a statement Twigg gave police after he was arrested was given voluntarily.

Scout, 19, and 24-year-old Twigg are charged with second-degree murder in connection to Kenrick Leonard First Rider's death Nov. 27 in his northside home.

At 7:20 a.m. that day Lethbridge EMS were called to a home in the 1200 block of 9 Avenue North, where they found First Rider’s body. Police determined First Rider had been involved in a verbal dispute with two men at the home. The dispute escalated to a physical altercation in which First Rider was killed.

Twigg, who remains in custody, was arrested the same day after he went to the police station. Scout was arrested later in the day after a warrant was issued and police received some tips from the public. He was released on bail in February.

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