In Calgary courts: Suspect linked to murder of missing Calgary man seeks bail pending fall trial

One of three suspects charged in connection with the murder of a missing Calgary man my learn next week whether he’ll be freed pending trial.

Defence counsel Rahul Nanda on Wednesday asked Calgary Court of King’s Bench Justice Jeffrey Jones to release Ali Samir El-Sayed pending his hearing on a charge of being an accessory after the fact to murder.

Jones tentatively set next Monday to hand down his decision, providing he doesn’t require further submissions.

Because El-Sayed was earlier denied bail the onus was on Nanda to establish there has been a change in circumstances that would warrant the accused’s release.

Jones imposed a publication ban on evidence called and submissions made by Nanda and Crown prosecutor Donna Spaner, who is opposed to El-Sayed’s release, during the day-long hearing.

El-Sayed, 47, is charged in connection with the death of Calgarian Christopher Stevenson, who was last on Aug. 24, 2023.

Following an extensive investigation, Calgary police came to the conclusion he had been the victim of foul play, even though his body has never been found.

An earlier review of El-Sayed’s detention was abandoned by Nanda in September, when the lawyer indicated he was dropping his application after his client’s hearing had begun.

But the lawyer renewed his application for El-Sayed’s release on Wednesday.

El-Sayed is scheduled to face a Calgary jury trial beginning Sept. 28, with jury selection set for Sept. 24.

Two co-accused, Kenedee Christine Taylor and Shaun Alexander Folk, are charged with second-degree murder in the death of Stevenson and will stand trial at the same time.

Folk was ordered detained following a bail hearing last September.

Taylor has applied for bail and a ruling on that applicationis expected next week.

Lawyers for four Calgary youth charged with first-degree murder need to review Crown disclosure before proceeding

Lawyers for four Calgary youth charged with the first-degree murder of a fellow teen have to pore over Crown disclosure before proceeding with the case, court heard Tuesday.

Defence counsel Jeanine Zahara asked youth court Justice Gay Benns to adjourn the case until Jan. 16, so the prosecution’s case can be reviewed.

“We’re all proposing a next date of Jan. 16, for the purpose of receiving and reviewing disclosure,” Zahara told the Calgary Court of Justice judge.

Zahara represents one of the four teens charged in connection with the death of 16-year-old Carter Spivak-Villeneuve.

Her client was the only one who appeared in person, and caused a small disturbance as one of his alleged victim’s family members addressed him as his court appearance ended.

“Hey, look at my face,” the man said, before Crown prosecutor Vicki Faulkner spoke to the supporters of the deceased and they exited court to speak to her outside.

Faulkner had earlier told Benns she had hoped to have disclosure ready for defence counsel before Christmas, but its vetting was only just completed.

She said disclosure would be provided to counsel by the end of Tuesday.

“We expect to have it out this afternoon,” Faulkner said.

One issue still to be dealt with is whether Zahara and two of her co-counsel are in a conflict because they all work out of the same law office.

Lawyers Tonii Roulston and Andrea Urquhart, who were represented in court by students at law, had previously indicated they had independent counsel speak to their clients about the conflict issue.

Their three 15-year-old clients, who remain in custody, were charged following the death of Spivak-Villeneuve, who was found dead in the 300 block of Abergale Drive N.E. around 1:20 a.m. last Aug. 1.

A fourth suspect, who was 16 at the time and is represented by lawyer Cameron Bally, also remains detained.

Police allege the killing was premeditated.

Protesting preacher hires new lawyer to fight charges he breached his conditional sentence

Anti-drag event preacher Derek Reimer has hired a new lawyer to help him fight allegations he breached his conditional sentence order.

But in bringing on defence counsel Alain Hepner, Reimer has guaranteed he’ll remain on house arrest for the foreseeable future.

Because Reimer is facing allegations he committed five breaches of his conditional sentence, the running of that term, which was to end two weeks ago, has been suspended, meaning he remains under court-ordered conditions.

Those include that the anti-drag crusader live under house arrest, one of the conditions he’s accused of breaching.

Reimer’s one-year conditional sentence, handed down Dec. 23, 2024, includes a provision that he remain at his home with some exceptions, including that he is permitted to travel to and from court.

He’s accused of breaching that condition by stopping outside the Calgary Courts Centre to give a media interview instead of heading directly to his residence after a court appearance.

Reimer is also alleged to have made a Facebook post referencing the library manager he was convicting of harassing, which the Crown says amounts to a breach of his no contact order with her.

His breach hearing was scheduled for Monday, but Hepner appeared on his behalf to indicate he has been retained to take over for defence counsel Andrew MacKenzie.

MacKenzie had fought to have the hearing conducted before Christmas, but Justice Sandra Mah declined his application to order Crown prosecutor Matt Dalidowicz to proceed sooner than the new year.

Hepner told court on Monday he will need some time to get up to speed on the case and asked that it be adjourned to docket court on Jan. 16, while he seeks disclosure from Dalidowicz.

Reimer is also currently on bail awaiting retrial in April on charges relating to a separate Reading with Royalty event where he had protested.

KMartin@postmedia.com

X: @KMartinCourts