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Court

Court update: Trial dates set in manslaughter case, High Level man ordered to stand trial for murder

Sep 12, 2022 | 6:00 AM

Trial dates set for Grande Prairie woman charged after 2017 death near Peace River

Alberta Justice says trial dates have been set for a Grande Prairie woman charged after a man died along Reno Road near Peace River more than five years ago.

The trial for Paige Eileen Burkinshaw is scheduled for January 30 to February 3, 2023, in Peace River court. Her charges include manslaughter and robbery.

She was one of several people charged after the May 17, 2017, death of 20-year-old Lawrence Robert Butt.

His body was found in a burned-out trailer along Reno Road East.

In December, Kyle Dubroy-Clement was given a 78-month jail sentence after being found guilty of robbery with violence, accessory to murder, and break and enter – not a dwelling house. He was found not guilty of a manslaughter charge.

In 2019, Blake Murphy of Grande Prairie was given a life sentence with no chance of parole for 10 years after pleading guilty to a charge of second degree murder.

Two other people had previously pleaded guilty to accessory charges and were handed short jail sentences.

Man charged in High Level murder ordered to stand trial

Alberta Justice says a man charged after a murder nearly two years ago in High Level has been ordered to stand trial.

Randall James Cardinal was charged after the September 21, 2020, death of 28-year-old Brett Daniel Sowan.

RCMP said at the time that they were called to a disturbance at a Paddle Prairie home then got another call a short time later about what they call “a firearms incident” at the same place.

Sowan was found injured at the scene where he was pronounced dead.

Cardinal is due back in High Level court on September 19.

Jail time for Sturgeon Lake man charged in multiple firearms cases

Alberta Justice says a Sturgeon Lake man charged in multiple cases involving firearms has been given a 270-day jail sentence.

Brandon Lee Munro had pleaded guilty to charges of possession of a prohibited firearm and two counts of failure to comply with a release order ahead of a trial date set for September 1 in Valleyview court; fourteen other charges were withdrawn.

The charges were related to an incident on February 3 this year.

Valleyview RCMP said at the time that Munro had fled a traffic stop and had a loaded firearm on him when he was arrested.

He was also due to stand trial August 11 for 13 charges related to a January incident where a suspect went to a Sturgeon Lake home while in possession of a loaded firearm and had also been charged after a shot was fired at RCMP members during a stolen property investigation, but those charges were withdrawn or dismissed when he entered his guilty pleas.

He was given 30-days time served back in May after admitting to a charge of operating a vehicle while prohibited.

This came after he was found in a stolen vehicle in September 2021; two possession of stolen property charges were withdrawn.

Jail time for Fairview man charged in St. Albert drug arrest

Alberta Justice says a Fairview man charged in a drug and weapons arrest in St. Albert has pleaded guilty to three charges and been given jail time.

Mitchell Vernon Elmore was given a total of nine months in jail after pleading guilty to charges of possession of stolen property over $5000, possession of a firearm knowing its possession is unauthorized, and failure to comply with a probation order.

He was one of three people arrested in the December 21, 2020 incident.

Edmonton Police Air Services had asked St. Albert RCMP to assist with a speeding vehicle. Mounties tried to pull it over, but it did not stop. The vehicle eventually met up with a truck. Some items were moved into the truck and the driver and passenger from the first vehicle took off in the truck. Morinville RCMP also came into help and a deflation device was sued and three people were arrested.

Charges against Kurt Heitrich of Edmonton were withdrawn on September 6, and Amy Actimichuk is due back in court on September 16.

Charges withdrawn against second accused in theft, counterfeiting case

Alberta Justice says charges against a second person charged in a theft and counterfeiting case have been withdrawn.

Veronica Rennie was due to stand trial August 30.

She was one of two people charged after RCMP searched two residences in Grande Prairie in relation to the theft of an ATM from a local business in January of 2021.

Mounties seized counterfeit Canadian and American money, stolen ID documents, and fake driver and firearms licenses.

In January of this year, co-accused Kodie Letendre was given a 540-day sentence after pleading guilty to charges that included possession of stolen property under $5000, uttering a forged document, and making counterfeit money.