Brief appearance for accused in 2017 murder and extortion

By Jeremy Appel on August 22, 2018.

jappel@medicinehatnews.com @MHNJeremyAppel

A man accused of first-degree murder for the death of 64-year-old James Satre had a brief court appearance Tuesday.

Robert Hoefman, 56, appeared in provincial court via closed-circuit TV from the Medicine Hat Remand Centre.

Defence lawyer Greg White said he is working on two things — setting up a preliminary inquiry to establish whether there’s sufficient evidence to proceed with the charges against Hoefman, and arranging a bail hearing at the Court of the Queen’s Bench, where the Crown will offer evidence.

Hoefman also faces a charge of extortion, for which he was arrested Nov. 9, 2017.

“There’s a red flag going up in my mind,” White said regarding the extortion charge.

He says he will be visiting his client in jail Thursday.

Police began investigating the extortion on Oct. 10.

The next day, Satre’s body was found in an alleyway near his home by the intersection of Mill Street and Smelter Avenue.

Police announced the two investigations were possibly linked after receiving “additional information” Oct. 23.

The charge of first-degree murder was laid in January, with police saying the murder was used to “strike fear” into the extortion victims.

Police also stated Satre appears to be a “victim of circumstance and location,” as he did not appear to be connected to the accused or extortion victims in any matter.

When announcing the connection between the two investigations, police said they were “concerned that there is threat to cause the death of unknown citizens.”

Hoefman’s next appearance is slated for Sept. 20, where he will appear again via CCTV.

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