(rdnewsNOW/Sheldon Spackman)

By Sheldon Spackman

Talks Continue

Resolution remains possible for man charged in Red Deer Walmart homicide

Oct 14, 2020 | 1:39 PM

Crown prosecutors and the defence lawyer for the man accused in a fatal shooting outside the Walmart in south Red Deer late last year appear to be making progress towards resolving the case without it going to trial.

Defence lawyer Rory Ziv told Red Deer provincial court Wednesday morning that there have been “some very productive discussions” with the Crown about resolving the charges against his client, Chase Freed.

Freed, who is 19, faces one count of second-degree murder and two counts of attempted murder. He’s also charged with failing to stop while being pursued by a police officer, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, and theft of a motor vehicle. He remains in custody at the Edmonton Remand Centre and appeared in court on Wednesday via CCTV.

In the event that a resolution cannot be reached, Freed’s case is scheduled to return to court Oct. 30 for a pre-trial conference and to set a date for a preliminary inquiry to determine if there is enough evidence to go to trial.

Crown lawyer Stephen Hill told court they expect five days would be needed for a preliminary inquiry.

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Freed’s charges stem from the shooting death of 69-year-old C.J. “Jim” Williams of Red Deer on Dec. 20, 2019.

Police said Williams had just left the store at about 6:45 p.m. when he was confronted in the parking lot where his wife waited in their vehicle, by a masked man with a sawed-off firearm. Williams was shot during the altercation and later died in hospital.

RCMP allege the masked suspect fired shots at two other people while fleeing the scene in a vehicle being driven by a woman.

The alleged driver, 30-year-old Crystal Maurice, has a preliminary hearing scheduled for May 2021 on charges of accessory after the fact to murder, failing to stop while being pursued by a police officer, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, and theft of a motor vehicle.