Judge reserves decision on bail for accused in murder case
By Delon Shurtz on April 28, 2021.
LETHBRIDGE HERALDdshurtz@lethbridgeherald.com A 37-year-old woman accused of killing her former common-law spouse last year, could be released from custody today, pending a decision in Lethbridge Court of Queen’s Bench.Melissa Dumaine Whitegrass had hoped to make bail Monday, but after hearing evidence from the Crown and defence, Justice Vaughan Hartigan reserved his decision until today.
Although details of the bail hearing cannot be reported under a court-ordered publication ban, Lethbridge police earlier reported that at about 4 p.m. on June 1, 2020, they responded to a motor vehicle collision involving a pedestrian in the west alley of the 900 block of 13 Street South.
Thirty-year-old Austin James Forsyth of Lethbridge, was rushed to Chinook Regional Hospital where he later died.
Police said a woman struck Forsyth with her vehicle while he and another person walked in the alley. The other person walking with Forsyth was nearly struck, as well.
Although the passenger fled the scene, the driver remained behind and claimed the collision was accidental.
Police said, however, evidence collected at the scene and during an extensive investigation in the following months, led them to believe the incident was intentional.
Whitegrass, a decorated war veteran who was injured while serving in Afghanistan in 2010, was arrested and charged March 2 with first-degree murder, dangerous driving causing death, and assault with a weapon. In addition to her hearing today in Court of Queen’s Bench, Whitegrass is scheduled to return to provincial court next Monday.
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