Audio and video statements made to police by a man accused of killing a Red Deer doctor in his walk-in clinic last year can be used in his trial, a judge has ruled.
A voir dire was held before Red Deer Court of Queen’s Bench Justice Paul Belzil this week on the voluntariness and admissibility of statements Deng Mabiour, 55, made to police following his arrest on Aug. 10, 2020. With Belzil’s ruling that the statements are admissible, the Crown prosecutor can use them as evidence in the jury trial for Mabiour that is set to run from Nov. 22 to Dec. 17.
All of the submissions made during the voir dire are covered by a publication ban.
Mabiour is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Dr. Walter Reynolds, who was killed at the Village Mall Walk-In Clinic on the morning of Aug. 10 last year. Reynolds, a father of two, was working at the clinic when he was attacked. He died later in hospital.
He also faces charges of assault with a weapon, a machete, and assaulting a police officer. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Mabiour has insisted in previous court appearances that he intends to represent himself. This week, defence lawyer Jason Snider was acting as a court-appointed amicus, or friend of the court, to assist in the pre-trial applications.