Guilty pleas possible when accused in hostage matter returns to court
By Delon Shurtz - Lethbridge Herald on July 29, 2023.
LETHBRIDGE HERALDdshurtz@lethbridgeherald.com The lawyer for a woman facing numerous criminal charges, including attempted murder, believes his client could be ready to enter guilty pleas when she returns to court next month.Lethbridge lawyer Marcus Mueller, who represents the accused, Courtney Louise Shaw, said Friday in Lethbridge court of justice that he just needs a little more time to work with Crown prosecutors in Medicine Hat before he’s ready to take a step.
“We’re hammering out the agreed statement of facts; the ball is currently in defence’s side of the court,” Mueller told the judge.
“I met with Miss Shaw only a few days ago, and we feel like there’s going to be, probably, one or two more drafts, and then we’ll have something we’re confident with.”
Mueller said once the final draft of the agreed statement of facts is complete, Shaw will enter pleas, pre-sentence reports will be ordered, and sentencing can be scheduled.
In addition to attempted murder, Courtney Louise Shaw, 41, is charged with numerous additional offences, including aggravated assault, taking a hostage, and multiple counts of pointing a firearm, possession of a weapon dangerous to the public, unlawful confinement, uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm, and assault with a weapon.
The charges stem from an incident on July 14, 2022 when, according to police, a woman entered Lethbridge Legal Guidance in the 400 block of 5 Street South, where four employees were working, and asked to speak to a specific lawyer. After being told the lawyer wasn’t available, the suspect asked to use a washroom and 10 minutes later returned and pointed a black handgun at two employees and threatened to kill them. One employee grabbed a phone and hid under her desk to call 911.
Police said the woman also had a knife and threatened to kill the employees if they tried to leave and didn’t get the lawyer on the phone. She then forced a 54-year-old woman into an office and closed the door, allowing the other employees to escape. The hostage, however, was stabbed numerous times and required surgery. Police seized a knife and an airsoft handgun at the scene.
Shaw was ultimately sent for a 30-day assessment to determine whether she was, at the time of the commission of the alleged offence, suffering from a mental disorder that could exempt her from criminal responsibility.
Although the matter is heading for resolution without a trial, the Crown was not so sure just last month. During a hearing June 8, Lethbridge Crown Prosecutor Clayton Giles said his counterparts in Medicine Hat felt there might be too great a divide between the two sides, and they were not close to reaching an agreement.
“They are concerned that the ECR discussions, while proceeding, are proceeding very, very slowly; that there is a great gulf between the two positions, and that…the notion that it’s going to reach that resolution is starting to become a dwindling process, from their perspective,” Giles said.
On Friday, however, Crown Prosecutor James Rouleau was more optimistic.
“I think once the documents are in their final form, I think the anticipation is of guilty pleas being entered,” he said.
The matter is scheduled to return to court on Aug. 11. Follow @DShurtzHerald on Twitter 4
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