By Sheldon Spackman

Quentin Strawberry

Attempted murder charge dropped in downtown machete attack

Sep 21, 2020 | 12:36 PM

Qt’s 60 days in jail satisfied by time served for a man from the O’Chiese First Nation charged in an alleged machete attack in downtown Red Deer last year while out on bail for a homicide case.

Quentin Strawberry, 39, entered guilty pleas to counts of obstructing a peace officer and breach of recognizance in Red Deer Court of Queen’s Bench on Monday, while charges of attempted murder and another breach of recognizance count were withdrawn by the Crown.

The incident in question took place at Potter’s Hands apartments in downtown Red Deer Dec. 2, 2019 when RCMP responded to a man who was suffering from a head injury following an altercation with another man. Mounties arrested a suspect soon after who had apparently jumped out of a second story window and was also said to be suffering from a “jagged wound.”

In sentencing, Justice Monica Bast acknowledged both Strawberry’s lengthy criminal record and struggles as a youth, growing up largely in foster care and dealing with substance abuse, the effects of residential schools on his family, and other challenges brought on by colonialism.

He was sentenced to consecutive 30 day terms on both counts, satisfied by time already served.

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Defense lawyer Maurice Collard said in the past five years that he has been Strawberry’s lawyer they have succeeded in beating about 60 of his charges – many of which have been very serious.

“What that tells me is that when someone who is marginalized and Indigenous like Mr. Strawberry is put up against all of the resources of the police and the government, that they can still have success in the justice system,” Collard said. “That means the justice system is working for everybody, not just a few privileged people. I think that’s something that should be celebrated by everybody.”

What he and his client are most happy about, Collard shared, is that the Crown ultimately came to the conclusion that the attempted murder charge should not proceed.

“The onus is always on the Crown to prove guilt and in this situation, they would not have been able to. That means Mr. Strawberry was presumed innocent, and now as a result of what’s happened today, he remains not guilty of these charges.”

As bail was not revoked by the Crown Monday morning, Strawberry was released from custody on Monday afternoon while awaiting his second-degree murder trial in relation to the March 29, 2019 death of 45-year-old Jospeh Gallant.

Strawberry is scheduled for trial in that matter next March.

“Now that the attempted murder charge is gone,” added Collard. “He (Strawberry) looks forward to putting that serious issue behind him and moving forward with his life. He is appreciative he has bail and will be aggressively defending against his murder charge.”