Evidence of letter trail entered into record as part of Hoefman trial
By medicinehatnews on March 5, 2021.
Evidence of a trail of letters which an extortion target was to follow was entered into the record Friday as part of the first-degree murder and extortion trial of Robert Hoefman at Medicine Hat Court of Queen’s Bench.
Hoefman, 59, is accused of plotting a million-dollar shake down of an individual that included threats to kill a number of people if the money wasn’t paid. He is also accused of killing of 63-year-old James Satre on Oct. 10, 2017 as part of the plan. The target of the extortion can’t be identified due to a court-ordered publication ban.
In an agreed statement of facts, the court heard how a Medicine Hat police officer was dressed as the extortion target and drove the man’s car following a bread crumb trail of letters.
The statement described how the target was to find a series of three notes, each explaining how to find the next one until the drop spot for the money would be revealed and the man would be able to, “finish the game,” as was described in the extortion letter.
Police snipers, surveillance units and trail cameras were deployed on Oct. 16, 2017 as officers tried to locate the extortionist as the final cash drop spot was revealed to be a walking path near College Drive.
The court also heard the continued cross-examination of Joesph Dolan as well as testimony from another Mill Street neighbour of Satre and a Medicine Hat police sergeant.
Testimony wrapped up early on Friday and is scheduled for a full day on Monday.
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