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Forcible confinement case going to trial

After two months of confusion, the fourth person accused of holding and beating a Red Deer man will head to trial.

After two months of confusion, the fourth person accused of holding and beating a Red Deer man will head to trial.

Jeffrey Allan King, 18, Daniel Arthur Potter, 26, and Corim Kyle Conway, 23, were ordered to stand trial following a preliminary hearing earlier in January.

The fourth, Darren Curtis Lagrelle, 19, did not initially proceed to a preliminary inquiry. While with defence counsel Walter Kubanek, he had indicated a desire to resolve the charges by a plea deal. However, a breakdown in solicitor-client relations led Lagrelle to change lawyers.

Now defence counsel Norm Clair represents Lagrelle. Clair, who appeared on Wednesday in Red Deer provincial court, said he had just received a large amount of disclosure and needed time to review it.

Clair waived Lagrelle’s right to have a preliminary hearing on Wednesday. These hearings are held to test the strength of the Crown’s case before heading to trial.

The four will now move to Red Deer Court of Queen’s Bench on March 7. At that time a trial date may be set.

Red Deer RCMP executed a search warrant at the Aladdin Inn Hotel on July 30, 2015. Police were following up on reports of a man being held against his will in one of the hotel’s rooms.

Police said the victim suffered a number of non-life-threatening injuries and was treated at the scene by EMS and released. The four accused men and the victim were known to each other.

Lagrelle, King, Potter and Conway are each charged with forcible confinement, aggravated assault, disguise with intent, and robbery.

Additionally, Lagrelle and King are charged with pointing a firearm and using a firearm in the commission of an offence.

mcrawford@www.reddeeradvocate.com