WESTLOCK — The Westlock teenager who allegedly shot a 62-year-old man last summer and now facing a single count of second-degree murder still doesn’t have a resolution for his case.
In Court of Queen’s Bench in Edmonton Nov. 6, his lawyer said the “Crown is still considering its proceeding,” and asked for a two-week adjournment to Nov. 20.
This is the third time an adjournment has been granted for similar reasons in the span of a few months. At the last adjournment Oct. 16, the teen’s lawyer said he and the Crown were in “extensive discussions” about whether or not a trial will happen. They were supposed to resolve the case or set a trial date last Friday.
At the previous appearance Oct. 2, the Crown said they were “assessing the viability of the file” before asking for an adjournment.
COVID cancelled prelim
A preliminary hearing for his case was first scheduled for July 15-16 in Westlock Provincial Court, but due to COVID-19 the local courthouse was closed. A pre-trial conference had also been previously scheduled for Jan. 10, 2020.
He first appeared in court Aug. 7, 2019 from the Edmonton Remand Centre, when he was released on a surety bond.
The alleged shooting happened Aug. 2, 2019 at a home in downtown Westlock. RCMP responded to a 911 call at around 12:10 a.m. that a 62-year-old man had suffered a gunshot wound. When they arrived, the man was already deceased. Police say the victim and the accused, who was 17 at the time, knew each other.
A publication ban under the Youth Criminal Justice Act prohibits naming the accused.
