Man to stand trial

A 44-year-old Regina man will stand trial for second-degree murder and two counts of attempted murder in relation to an incident from earlier this year.

Ronald James Ozipko appeared in custody at Regina Provincial Court on Monday for a preliminary hearing, held to determine whether the Crown’s evidence is sufficient to go to trial at Court of Queen’s Bench. After several witnesses were called to testify, defence lawyer Andrew Hitchcock said his client was consenting to committal to stand trial on the three charges without the need to call additional witnesses at Monday’s hearing.

A date for trial has not yet been set. Ozipko has been remanded in custody in the meantime.

Details of evidence heard at the preliminary hearing can’t be reported because of a court-imposed publication ban.

The murder charge was laid in the death of Regina resident Rodney Dale Sanheim, who was 57 when he died on March 10 — the date police were called to a report of an assault with a weapon at an apartment residence in the 2900 block of Victoria Avenue.

According to information released at that time by the Regina Police Service, police arrived shortly after the call came in at 9:14 a.m., at which time they searched and secured the building. Sanheim’s body was located and he was confirmed dead at the scene by EMS.

Another man was reportedly injured during the same incident and was taken to hospital for treatment. A third man, a 66-year-old, was not physically hurt but is the complainant in the second attempted murder charge.

Ozipko was taken into custody at the scene without further incident, police had said.

Ozipko is also accused of breaching probation, with that charge to be dealt with at provincial court at a later date.