Second-degree murder case delayed again

A preliminary hearing for two men charged with second-degree murder continues to be put off while their lawyers and the Crown’s office wait for a report from the medical examiner.

The lawyers had hoped to set a date for the hearing earlier this week in Lethbridge provincial court, but the matter was adjourned to allow time for them to receive critical information about the victim’s cause of death. Crown Prosecutor Clayton Giles said he hopes the medical examiner’s report will arrive by Oct. 7.

Court was told the lawyers and judge met Sept. 9 for a pre-trial conference, and have another one set for Oct. 7, when they hope to have the ME’s report. The accused, Justin Robert White Cow and Jason James Crane Chief, are scheduled to return to court Oct. 14, when lawyers may finally be able to set a date for the preliminary hearing.

The accused, who previously elected to be tried by a judge and jury, were charged with seconddegree murder in May 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, 27. was arrested May 1, four days after police found the victim’s body. White Cow, 33, 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 confirmed a weapon was used during the fight and drugs were being consumed at the social gathering.

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