Piikani man pleads not guilty to murder charge
By Delon Shurtz on February 17, 2021.
LETHBRIDGE HERALDdshurtz@lethbridgeherald.com A 37-year-old Piikani man accused of killing a teenager last summer has pleaded not guilty to charges of second-degree murder and causing an indignity to human remains.Dustin Big Bull entered the pleas Tuesday in Lethbridge provincial court, where he also elected to be tried by a Court of Queen’s Bench judge and jury, with a preliminary hearing. The case is scheduled to return to court March 16 to allow time for a pre-trial conference, during which the Crown and defence can discuss trial issues and set a date for the preliminary hearing.
Big Bull, who remains in custody at the Calgary Remand Centre, is charged with the death of 16-year-old Tregan Crow Eagle, whose remains were found July 27, 2020, wrapped in a tarp at a dumpsite on the Piikani Nation. The teen had earlier been reported missing and was last seen on July 22.
During a brief hearing last month, court was told Big Bull had completed a fitness assessment, and was declared fit to stand fit.
Shortly after Big Bull was arrested and charged last October, Calgary lawyer Balfour Der took the case. He withdrew Feb. 3, however, after an agent told the judge scheduling problems made it too difficult for the lawyer to take on a murder case.
Calgary lawyer James Wyman has taken over the file. Follow @DShurtzHerald on Twitter 4
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