Trial dates will be set in September for two suspects arrested during a drug raid in Red Deer last fall.
Suspects Randy Julius Larson, 26, and Steven Michael Temple, 27, had previously elected trial by judge alone in the Court of Queen’s Bench, with a preliminary hearing set for Red Deer provincial court on Wednesday afternoon.
In court on Wednesday, however, defence counsel Maurice Collard said the two men have decided to forgo the preliminary hearing and head directly to trial.
Preliminary hearings are optional for Queen’s Bench trials, and may be held to test the Crown’s evidence beforehand.
Larson and Temple are scheduled for arraignment in Queen’s Bench on Sept. 12.