Trial in shooting case to be rescheduled
By Delon Shurtz - Lethbridge Herald on May 14, 2024.
LETHBRIDGE HERALDdshurtz@lethbridgeherald.com The trial for a Calgary man charged in relation to a shooting in Lethbridge more than two years ago will have to be rescheduled.Bira Jamal Ahmed was set to stand trial from Oct. 28 to Nov. 1 of this year, but it was vacated Monday in Lethbridge Court of King’s Bench after Calgary lawyer Allan Fay, who was allowed to replace the accused’s previous lawyer, said he will be unavailable on the trial dates.
“Unfortunately I’m unavailable for those trial dates because I have a trial in Edmonton during that time,” Fay said.
He told court he is in the process of obtaining disclosure and added he and the Crown are discussing the possibility of a trial by judge alone rather than judge and jury, which will shorten trial time.
Ahmed, 26, is charged with aggravated assault, assault with a weapon, discharging a firearm with intent to endanger life, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, using a firearm in the commission of an offence, unauthorized possession of a firearm, possession of a loaded prohibited or restricted firearm, and recklessly discharging a firearm.
Police responded to a report of a shooting just after 10:30 p.m. Dec. 29, 2021 outside a residence in the 800 block of 7 A Avenue North. A 49-year-old Lethbridge man was taken to hospital with a gunshot wound and was listed in stable condition with non-life-threatening injuries.
Police said a verbal altercation between two men turned violent after one of the men left then returned later in the day and fired a gun during a second altercation.
Police were unable to find a suspect immediately after the shooting, but about noon the following day officers stopped a vehicle in the 3200 block of 1 Avenue South and arrested two individuals. One of the individuals was released without charges.
Investigators said the suspect and victim previously knew each other, and the incident was not random.
The matter returns to court on May 27 to speak to scheduling a new trial. 3
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