Woman pleads not guilty to shooting charges
By Delon Shurtz - Lethbridge Herald on August 22, 2023.
LETHBRIDGE HERALDdshurtz@lethbridgeherald.com A Lethbridge woman accused of shooting her ex-boyfriend earlier this year has pleaded not guilty to numerous criminal charges. Calgary lawyer John Oman entered the pleas Thursday in Lethbridge provincial court on behalf of the accused, Kristina Hatcher, and said his client has chosen to be tried by a judge in Alberta Court of Justice. Oman said he expects the trial to take at least two days, which will require scheduling a pre-trial conference to discuss issues, determine the length of trial and schedule dates. The matter is set to return to court Sept. 7 to determine if the pre-trial conference has been held or a date for the meeting has been set. Hatcher, who remains in custody at the Lethbridge Correctional Centre and was not required to attend court Thursday, is charged with aggravated assault, assault with a weapon, assault/choking, theft of a vehicle, discharging a firearm with intent to injure, use of a firearm while committing an offence, careless use/storage of a firearm, pointing a firearm, unauthorized possession of a firearm, possession of a firearm knowing possession is unauthorized, robbery with a firearm, mischief causing damage under $5,000, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, and uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm. At about 6:26 a.m. on March 20 Lethbridge police responded to a 911 call that a man had been assaulted in his home on Rutgers Crescent West. Police reported the 54-year-old victim confronted his ex-girlfriend and another man, and following a brief verbal exchange was shot by the woman and physically assaulted by the man. The two assailants then fled in the victim’s truck, which was recovered a short distance away. Two suspects were arrested without incident later in the day, and police also seized a firearm. The victim was treated at the hospital for a gunshot wound, and was reported at the time to be in stable condition. Robert Duane Vincent, 41, of Claresholm, is also accused of offences stemming from the same incident and is charged with aggravated assault, assault with a weapon, assaulting/choking, theft of a vehicle, discharge a firearm with intent to injure, use of a firearm while committing an offence, careless use/storage of a firearm, pointing a firearm, unauthorized possession of a firearm, knowingly possessing an unauthorized firearm, possession of a firearm contrary to an order, robbery with a firearm, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, and mischief causing damage. Vincent, who remains in custody after being denied bail in April, pleaded not guilty to his charges earlier this week and the matter was adjourned to Aug. 29 to determine the status of a pre-trial conference. Follow @DShurtzHerald on Twitter 12-11
