Suspect in shooting of tourist seeks bail

The Morley teen charged with attempted murder in the shooting of a German tourist will learn Thursday whether he’ll have to remain behind bars pending trial.

Provincial court Judge Peter Barley heard submissions Wednesday on whether the 16-year-old should be released or detained while his case works its way through the judicial system.

Barley heard submissions from Crown prosecutor Dane Rolfe and defence counsel Balfour Der before reserving his decision.

At Der’s request, Barley imposed an automatic publication ban on the hearing, which will include his reasons for detaining or releasing the accused.

The teen was arrested without incident on the Stoney Nakoda First Nation on Aug. 24 and a gun was seized by police.

He faces charges of attempted murder and other offences in connection with the incident three weeks earlier, in which the tourist was shot while driving west of Calgary with his family.

The tourist, identified in court documents as Horst Stewin, was driving on Highway 1A in a Dodge Durango on Aug. 2 with his wife, son and son’s girlfriend near Morley on the Stoney Nakoda First Nation.

Police say a black sedan pulled alongside the Durango and someone in the sedan opened fire, striking Stewin in the head. The attack caused him to veer off the road before crashing into a stand of trees.

The man underwent surgery after being airlifted to hospital and police said he may suffer long-term or permanent effects “as a result of the trauma.”

Stewin and his family were flown home to Germany days after the shooting.