Charges dropped against co-accused in taxi robbery
By Delon Shurtz - Lethbridge Herald on January 5, 2022.
LETHBRIDGE HERALDdshurtz@lethbridgeherald.com A woman who was accused with her sister of robbing a taxi driver more than two years ago no longer faces criminal charges in relation to the offence.Jessica Mae Eagle Speaker was scheduled to stand trial Tuesday in Lethbridge provincial court on charges of robbery, uttering threats, theft of a motor vehicle and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, but the Crown didn’t call any evidence and the matter was dismissed.
The woman was co-accused with her sister, Kimberlie Rose Eagle Speaker, who pleaded guilty last October to charges of robbery and theft of a motor vehicle, stemming from a violent incident in Lethbridge on Nov. 11, 2019.
Following her guilty plea, court was told a taxi driver picked up Kimberlie and another woman from a convenience store on 13 Street North about 7:40 a.m. and was told to drive to a northside residence. However, as they approached their destination, Kimberlie, who was sitting in the front seat, pulled out a knife and demanded money. She also said the woman in the rear seat had a gun.
The driver stopped and attempted to flee, but a computer tablet fell from his pocket onto the car seat. As he tried to recover the tablet Kimberlie “poked him with a knife,” and the two struggled, during which the driver was cut on the face. He managed to run into a field and Kimberlie drove away with his vehicle.
The women made off with about $35, the $600 tablet and a $500 cellphone.
About an hour later police noticed a woman standing on 5 Avenue North who appeared to need help. The woman, who appeared to be dope sick, told the officer she was not part of any robbery, but she matched the description of the taxi robber and was arrested and taken to the police station.
Shortly afterward an officer stopped a motor vehicle, and determined the passenger was the other woman involved in the robbery. She was arrested and eventually confessed to police. She told police that after Kimberlie sped away in the taxi, she became frightened and ran from the vehicle when Kimberlie stopped shortly afterward.
A sentencing hearing for Kimberlie is scheduled for later this month. It was adjourned following her guilty plea in October to allow time for the preparation of a pre-sentence report and Gladue report, which will provide the court with the woman’s personal circumstances and aboriginal background to help the judge determine a fit sentence. Follow @DShurtzHerald on Twitter 4
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