EDMONTON — A St. Albert filmmaker accused of killing an Edmonton man in an case that police say mirrors a movie he produced was in court Wednesday seeking bail.
Court of Queen’s Bench Justice Michelle Crighton heard arguments from Crown and defence regarding the proposed release of Mark Anthony Twitchell, 30, and said she would issue a decision in the case on Friday afternoon.
A publication ban was ordered at the hearing, prohibiting the media from reporting on the alleged evidence.
Twitchell, who sat in the prisoner’s box wearing blue Edmonton Remand Centre coveralls and white runners, was animated as he shook his lawyer’s hand and chatted.
Twitchell is charged with first-degree murder and attempted murder.
Police allege he killed Johnny Altinger, 38, at a south-side garage on Oct. 10 after luring him there on the pretense he was to meet a mystery woman he’d chatted with online.
Altinger’s body has not been found, but police say forensic and circumstantial evidence was strong enough to justify a first-degree murder charge.
Police also allege Twitchell tried to do the same thing to another man at the garage a week earlier, however the man was able to escape.
Police have also said the garage was where Twitchell had filmed “House of Cards,” a movie about a character who lures people to a garage, ties them to a chair and chops them into pieces.