Man won’t be tried for uncle’s death
In another twist in a case involving police shootings, a rural manhunt, a missing rifle and an apparent link with the radical group Freeman-on-the-Land, the Crown has decided to discontinue a murder charge against the man accused of wounding two Mounties in rural Alberta.
Sawyer Robison is still charged with the attempted murder of two officers after a standoff on the family farm near Killam on Feb. 7, 2012. Robison’s uncle, Bradford Clarke, was found dead at the farm later that day.
But a charge of seconddegree murder in his uncle’s death — a charge that came eight months into the investigation, surprising his lawyer — will be discontinued when a preliminary hearing resumes in court Monday, said Alberta Justice spokeswoman Michelle Davio.
“Upon reviewing the evidence, the second-degree murder charge will be discontinued because there’s no reasonable likelihood of conviction,” Davio said, noting the prosecutor recently received evidence from the RCMP related to Clarke’s death.
Davio said she couldn’t give details about the new evidence. She added the Crown could decide to reactivate the charge at a future date.
The lawyer who acted for Robison at previous court hearings, Brian Beresh, did not return calls Friday.
Robison, 28, still faces two counts of attempted murder, and several weapons offences.
The charges were laid after four officers tried to execute a search warrant for a handgun on the farm, about 160 kilometres southeast of Edmonton. When constables Sheldon Shah and Sid Gaudette walked into a house, they were both shot, but made it back outside, RCMP said.
After three days on the lam, Robison turned himself in following an emotional public plea from his father.
Ten days after the shooting, 25 officers conducted a foot search for a semi-automatic rifle, believed to be connected to the shooting.
Bail, initially denied in April 2012, was granted in late June after his lawyer presented new information. Robison was ordered to have no contact with Freeman-on-theLand, an anti-government group that has caused major policing and courtroom problems in Alberta.
Robison was arrested again in October after he was charged with the seconddegree murder of his uncle, but was granted bail again in December 2012.