Men facing murder charge make appearance

Two men charged with the city’s second murder of the year made a brief appearance Thursday in a Lethbridge courtroom, where one of the men was sentenced on unrelated charges of failing to attend court.

Justin Robert White Cow, who appeared by closed-circuit TV from the Lethbridge Correctional Centre, pleaded guilty to two counts of failing to attend court, both from last October, and was sentenced to one day in jail. The judge did not, however, levy a victim fine surcharge when asked by defence.

“He’s going to be in custody for awhile, so I would ask you to waive it,” said Lethbridge lawyer Claudia Connolly.

White Cow, 33, and 27-yearold Jason James Crane Chief were charged with seconddegree murder last month after police responded to a report of an injured man at an apartment building in the 1200 block of 4 Avenue South. Police and EMS found the body of a 43-year-old man inside one of the units. Crane Chief was arrested May 1, four days after police found the victim’s body. White Cow was arrested on May 5.

During the evening of April 26 the victim had been inside his apartment socializing with acquaintances when a fight broke out. When a friend arrived at the victim’s apartment the following day the man was unresponsive and his friend called for help.

Police have confirmed a weapon was used during the fight and drugs were being consumed at the social gathering.

White Cow also faces additional charges, which are unrelated to the murder. He returns to court on those charges next week. He and Crane Chief return to court on the murder charge next month.

The murder is the city’s second this year.

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