Woman pleads guilty in hostage-taking; lengthy prison term expected

By Delon Shurtz - Lethbridge Herald on August 18, 2023.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDdshurtz@lethbridgeherald.com

A Lethbridge woman accused of taking a hostage at a city business and stabbing her victim multiple times, is expected to face a significant prison term when she returns to court next month.
Courtney Louise Shaw, 41, pleaded guilty Thursday in Lethbridge court of justice to two charges of pointing a firearm, four counts of using a firearm while committing an offence, three counts of unlawful confinement, and single counts of taking a hostage and aggravated assault.
Court was told the Crown and defence will provide the judge with a joint submission on Sept. 5, which will recommend Shaw serve a lengthy term of imprisonment in a federal penitentiary.
Additional charges of attempted murder and multiple counts of assault with a weapon, threats to cause death or bodily harm, and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, are expected to be withdrawn after Shaw is sentenced.
Although an agreed statement of facts submitted to the court Thursday was not read aloud, police previously reported that on July 14, 2022 a woman entered Lethbridge Legal Guidance in the 400 block of 5 Street South, where four employees were working, and asked to speak to a specific lawyer. After being told the lawyer wasn’t available, the suspect asked to use a washroom and 10 minutes later returned and pointed a black handgun at two employees and threatened to kill them. One employee grabbed a phone and hid under her desk to call 911.
Police said the woman also had a knife and threatened to kill the employees if they tried to leave and didn’t get the lawyer on the phone. She then forced a 54-year-old woman into an office and closed the door, allowing the other employees to escape. The hostage, however, was stabbed numerous times and required surgery. Police seized a knife and an airsoft handgun at the scene.
Although a pre-sentence report, which provides the court with an accused’s personal circumstances and background, is typically ordered before sentencing on serious matters, Lethbridge lawyer Marcus Mueller said he and his client chose not to ask for it.
He added, however, his client, who remains in remand custody at the Lethbridge Correctional Centre, previously had the “benefit” of a 30-day psychiatric assessment. The assessment was to determine whether Shaw was, at the time of the commission of the offences, suffering from a mental disorder that could exempt her from criminal responsibility.

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