Murder trial expected to be resolved without going to trial

By Delon Shurtz - Lethbridge Herald on September 12, 2023.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDdshurtz@lethbridgeherald.com

A 60-year-old Lethbridge man accused of stabbing his wife to death right after Christmas, is expected to resolve his matter, likely later this year, without going to trial.
During a brief hearing Monday in Lethbridge Court of King’s Bench, the judge was told the Crown and defence are ready to proceed with the sentencing of David Albert Dragland, who is charged with one count of first-degree murder. The charge carries a mandatory lifetime prison sentence with parole eligibility after 25 years.
At about 11 p.m. on Dec. 27 police responded to a disturbance involving a man and woman at a home in the 2500 block of 13 Avenue North. When police arrived a man walked out of the home and was arrested without incident.
Police found a critically injured woman inside the home and began First Aid until EMS arrived and took over. The 59-year-old victim, identified as Shelley Dragland, sustained multiple stab wounds and died at the scene.
Police determined the man and woman had been together in the home when the man grabbed a knife from the kitchen and stabbed the victim several times.
The case is scheduled to return to court on Oct. 23 to set a date for the accused’s sentencing hearing.

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