Week-long adjournment for man accused of first-degree murder
By Peggy Revell on July 5, 2018.
Medicine Hat News It was another brief court appearance and adjournment Wednesday for the Medicine Hat man facing a first-degree murder charge over the death of 64-year-old James Satre. Robert S. Hoefman remains in custody, appearing by closed-circuit TV from the Medicine Hat Remand Centre before the court, with his counsel granted a week’s adjournment to July 11. The court heard a time for a preliminary hearing is still being worked on, while Hoefman is going through disclosure. Hoefman was arrested Nov. 9 on a single count of extortion. The first-degree murder charge was laid in January. As outlined in the 2017 Medicine Hat Police Service’s report, the investigation into the extortion began with a threatening ransom letter left on the property of a local business, including detailed threats to commit violent acts unless a million-dollar ransom was paid. Satre’s body was found the morning of Oct. 11, 2017 in the alleyway by his home by the intersection of Mill Street and Smelter Avenue. Investigation by police led them to connecting the homicide and extortion, and arresting Hoefman. Police say Satre appeared to be a “victim of circumstance and location,” and has no apparent connection to the extortion victim or the accused. 10-9
