Further adjournments in Fort Macleod homicide case
Lawyers for two of five people charged in relation to a one-year-old murder case have adjourned their matters until next month, to allow them time to review disclosure from the Crown’s office, while a third adjourned the matter to acquire a new lawyer June 22 in Lethbridge provincial court.
43-year-old Richard Lavell has decided to part ways with Calgary lawyer Jim Edgett, and was advised to acquire counsel prior to July 13 when the other two accused, Miranda Turuk, 28, and Randy Giroux, 40, are scheduled to return to court.
Calgary lawyer Jim Edgett, who represents 43-year-old Richard Lavell, said during a hearing this week in Lethbridge provincial court he plans to confirm when he returns to court next week how his client will be tried in Court of Queen’s Bench; with or without a jury and with or without a preliminary hearing. Turuk and Giroux are scheduled to return to court June 22.
“I understand the co-accused… are going to be asking for a longer adjournment, but Mr. Lavell would like to set a date for bail in Queen’s Bench in short order, so I’m asking for a shorter adjournment,” Edgett told the judge.
Calgary lawyers Shamsher Kothari and
Kirsten Lancee, who represented Turuk and Giroux respectively, said they are also planning to hold bail hearings for their clients, but they are still waiting for outstanding disclosure and need to review disclosure they have already received before they can arrange for a bail hearing.
“I can advise you I won’t be in a position to proceed with a show cause of the Court of Queen’s Bench until I’ve reviewed some of the video statements that are going to be coming in that next package,” Kothari said.
The three Fort Macleod residents are charged with second-degree murder, while two others, 51-year-old Edward
Goodrich of Granum and 37-year-old Michelle Toth of Claresholm, are charged with accessory after the fact to murder and interfering with a dead body. Goodrich’s matters are set to return to court Monday, while Toth’s next court hearing is scheduled for June 14.
The charges relate to the death of Lane Tailfeathers of Fort Macleod, who was reported missing on June 23, 2021. A month later Tailfeather’s remains were found in a remote area near Crowsnest Pass. RCMP investigators determined the 35-year-old man was killed in Fort Macleod between June 20 and 21 of last year.