A murder trial being held in a Red Deer hotel was shut down on Thursday morning after police were called because of a “security breach.”
Red Deer RCMP Staff Sgt. Marlene Brown said there was no danger to anyone at the trial, which is being held in a large meeting room Quality Inn and Conference Centre at 7150 50th Ave. The venue was picked to meet all COVID-19 safety protocols.
“There was a bit of security issue there this morning. But certainly nothing that’s warrants any public concern in terms of safety or any concerns like that,” said Brown.
“The trial will be resuming tomorrow.”
At noon, the hallway leading to the security area with a walk-through metal detector staffed by sheriffs was roped off. Two police officers stood nearby.
Brown said she could not provide specifics on the nature of the breach. But she noted that the pandemic has led to changing locations, venues and protocols in the justice system and courts have had to adapt security measures.
Evan Ernest Foureyes is on trial before a jury for second-degree murder, accused of stabbing Arley Lagrelle, 23, to death outside a store at Sunchild First Nation in November 2018. Foureyes is also charged with assault with a weapon and kidnapping with a firearm.
The trial, which began on Tuesday, is scheduled to run three weeks.