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Accused getaway car driver in Walmart shooting appears in court

Crystal Maurice is accused of driving the car the shooter used to make his escape
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RCMP locked down the south-end Walmart on Friday evening after an incident that left a man injured. Photo by PAUL COWLEY/Advocate staff

A woman accused of driving the getaway car following a fatal shooting at a Red Deer Walmart last month was in court Wednesday.

Crystal Lee Maurice, 30, appeared in person in Red Deer provincial court.

Maurice has been charged with accessory after the fact to murder, flight from police, dangerous driving and vehicle theft in connection with the Dec. 20 shooting that left a city man dead.

Police say Maurice was driving the SUV that accused gunman Chase Freed, 18, jumped in after C.J. (Jim) Williams was shot around 6:45 p.m.

It is alleged Freed fired at two other bystanders with a sawed-off semi-automatic rifle as he fled the scene.

Maurice and Freed were tracked down by police several hours later near Sylvan Lake. Maurice was arrested in a stolen vehicle.

Freed, who was in a second stolen vehicle by that time, was arrested after a short foot chase.

A law student, speaking for Maurice’s Red Deer lawyer, Andrew Phypers, said he had recently received the disclosure information, but had not had time to review it.

The case was adjourned until Feb. 5.

Maurice remains in custody. A bail hearing has been scheduled for next month.

Freed has been charged with second-degree murder, two counts of attempted murder, flight from police, dangerous driving and theft of a motor vehicle.

He returns to court on Feb. 18.



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