Pre-trial motion set in Big Crow murder case

Calgary murder suspect Scott Big Crow will face a weeklong pretrial hearing in August, but is still no closer to a jury trial, his lawyer said Wednesday.

Big Crow appeared in Court of Queen’s Bench via video link, where Justice David Labrenz confirmed for Crown and defence lawyers that he will hear a week’s worth of evidence in August.

Labrenz, who with prosecutor Lori Chambers and defence counsel Dale Fedorchuk appeared by phone, asked if it was possible some witnesses could appear remotely.

But Fedorchuk said because of the nature of the evidence, witnesses will need to testify in person.

Outside court, the lawyer said they are no closer to finding a fourweek period to conduct the trial before a Calgary jury.

Fedorchuk and Chambers had arranged to run the trial in June without a jury, but the court would not accommodate them due to ongoing COVID-19 concerns.

Fedorchuk said he’s not optimistic a trial can be held before next April, 30 months from when Big Crow was charged.