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Convenience store brawl nets man six month jail term

One of two people arrested after a brawl outside a Red Deer convenience store last week has been sentenced to six months in jail with a year of probation to follow.

One of two people arrested after a brawl outside a Red Deer convenience store last week has been sentenced to six months in jail with a year of probation to follow.

Justin McCallum, 22, and Katie Murphy, 19, were arrested and charged with numerous offences by police investigating an incident outside a convenience store on Gaetz Avenue at 10 a.m. on Friday.

Represented by defence counsel Kevin Schollie, McCallum pleaded guilty to three of four offences during his first court appearance in Red Deer provincial court on Monday. He admitted to common assault, breaching probation and possession of a stolen car worth more than $5,000. A charge of assault with a weapon was reduced to common assault and the charge of uttering death threats was withdrawn as a result of his plea.

Judge Bert Skinner heard that the fight ensued when a delivery truck driver intervened in a scrap between McCallum and a former girlfriend. McCallum turned on the trucker and punched him several times, Crown prosecutor Ed Ring said in reading a statement of facts entered as part of the guilty plea.

McCallum then fled the scene with three others and was arrested later.

Murphy is to make her first court appearance on Feb. 7 to answer charges of escaping lawful custody, two counts of breaching a recognizance and possession of a stolen car worth more than $5,000.