Suspect in Memorial Drive slaying to stay in jail

Manslaughter suspect Martin Wallace Yuen will remain behind bars pending his jury trial this fall, a Calgary judge ruled Thursday.

Justice Karen Horner said defence counsel Rebecca Snukal had failed to establish there were grounds to allow her client to be freed on bail while he awaits his upcoming hearing.

At Snukal's request, Horner ordered a publication ban on submissions made by the defence lawyer and Crown prosecutor Tiffany Dwyer last week.

The ban also extends to the Court of Queen's Bench judge's reasons for denying Yuen bail.

“I dismiss Mr. Yuen's application for judicial interim release pending trial,” Horner said at the conclusion of her brief decision.

Yuen, 53, is charged with manslaughter in connection with the shooting death last March 27 of Jesse Shay Troy George, who was gunned down in the 5200 block of Memorial Drive S.E.

He was found in medical distress by police around 10 p.m. that evening. First responders weren't able to assist him and he died at the scene.

Yuen's co-accused, John Tabler, was arrested shortly after George's death.

A month later, Yuen was taken into custody.

On April 28, police surrounded a residence in the same area where the victim was slain and arrested Yuen.

He has been on remand since.

As Horner gave her ruling, Yuen sat quietly in the prisoner's box, dressed in standard Calgary Remand Centre overalls and wearing a surgical mask.

He did not address court during the proceeding.

Last month, Court of Queen's Bench Justice David Gates denied Tabler's bid for freedom pending their three-week jury trial, which is scheduled to begin Nov. 21.

Tabler, 42, is charged with second-degree murder.

A similar publication ban was issued by Gates at Tabler's bail hearing at the request of his lawyer, Andrea Urquhart.