One of six people charged in a murder near Rocky Mountain House last fall is apparently going to have his case resolved soon.
Darcy John Lightfoot, 30, of Rocky waived his right to a preliminary hearing Wednesday and will now appear May 2 in Red Deer Court of Queen’s Bench.
“It will now go to the May arraignments where it will be disposed of and we’ll set a date for a summary disposition,” Crown prosecutor Robin Joudrey told provincial court Judge Jim Mitchell.
Lightfoot, who appeared in person, is charged with the second-degree murder of Gordon Marlice Strawberry, 45, of the O’Chiese First Nation Reserve, located 53 km northwest of Rocky. He remains in custody.
A month-long murder preliminary hearing is set for August to hear evidence against the other five accused who are all from the O’Chiese Reserve.
The accused will be tried together in connection with the death of Gordon Marlice Strawberry whose body was found on Sept. 18, 2010, outside a reserve residence following a house party. He had been beaten but RCMP didn’t release further details.
All the accused are charged with second-degree murder and remain in custody.
Preliminary hearings are held to determine if there’s enough evidence to warrant the accused stand trial in Queen’s Bench. Cameron Paul Strawberry, 37, Terrence Andy Beaverbones, 21, Evan Everest Foureyes, 21, Jenny Olivia Beaverbones, 26, and Malvina Jean Beaverbones, 36, are all charged.
jwilson@www.reddeeradvocate.com