Hoefman collapses, delaying sentencing

By Alex McCuaig Special to the News on March 26, 2021.

The courtroom hearing the sentencing of Robert Hoefman erupted in pandemonium Thursday as the now convicted murderer and extortionist appeared to faint after standing to receive his life sentence.

Hoefman’s son yelled for someone to grab the 59-year-old as he began a slow tilt to his right side and away from his lawyer and sheriff standing next to the prisoner’s dock, just after Justice Dallas Miller asked the man to stand to receive his sentence.

Sheriffs piled into the courtroom to aid Hoefman while restraining and escorting his son out as he yelled about the perceived inaction in assisting his father.

A Medicine Hat jury on Wednesday evening found the man guilty of the first-degree murder of James Satre, 63, and extortion of another individual who can’t be named due to a publication ban.

Satre was stabbed to death by Hoefman as a random killing, which was part of a million-dollar extortion plot.

Hoefman appeared to show the wear of the nearly four-week trial compared to when he first appeared March 1 at jury selection.

Thursday saw the man look tired with his hair unkempt, requiring help to get into the prisoner’s dock and appearing on the verge of tears with lips quivering as he looked over at the half-dozen members of his family sitting across from him in the courtroom configured for social distancing.

But it was the victims of Hoefman’s crimes in which the opportunity was given to provide statements about how the man’s crimes impacted them prior to that incident.

Marie Lippert, sister of Satre, told the court in a statement read by Medicine Hat chief Crown Ramona Robins how her life will never be the same without her beloved brother.

“I’ve lost my brother and best friend,” read the statement.

Lippert’s statement went on to say she used to enjoy everyday life with her brother, “now it’s just existing day to day.”

A victim impact statement from an individual whose name is covered under the publication ban was also read in part by Robins.

That individual was threatened to be skinned alive by Hoefman in one of his extortion letters.

“You have not ruined me but you and your family,” read the statement.

Paramedics were called to the courtroom to attend to Hoefman but the court was adjourned to complete sentencing this morning.

Prior to the adjournment, the court heard a joint submission for a five-year sentence on the extortion charge.

First-degree murder comes with an automatic life sentence with no eligibility for parole for at least 25 years.

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