Subscribe to the 100% free rdnewsNOW daily newsletter!
By Troy Gillard (Twitter: @Troy_Gillard)

Delay of proceedings application denied in Castor family murder case

Sep 8, 2017 | 2:08 PM

A delay of proceedings application for a Castor man charged with killing his family has been denied.

Lawyers for Jason Klaus, 41, filed the application based on what is known as the Jordan decision. It establishes timelines that trials must be heard by 18 months after charges are laid for provincial court, and 30 months for a for a province’s superior court (Court of Queen’s Bench).

The application was heard in Red Deer Provincial Court on Aug. 24.

Klaus is charged with three counts of first degree murder and one count of arson in relation to the deaths of his father Gordon Klaus, 61, his mother Sandra Klaus, 62, and his sister Monica Klaus, 40. His friend Joshua Frank, 32, faces the same charges along with one animal cruelty-related count.

The three people died in a house fire in Castor on December 8, 2013. The remains of Gordon and Monica were discovered in what remained of the burned out house. Sandra’s remains were never found, though police investigators believe they were consumed by the blaze.

all youths involved
Red Deer RCMP respond to downtown stabbing Friday night
Apr 19, 2026
addressing the "missing middle"
Hazlett Lake, west of QEII 'Centrepoint' developments could progress in not-too-distant future
Apr 18, 2026
Available for local businesses
Central Alberta First, RDP launch new Artificial Intelligence workshop series
Apr 17, 2026

Klaus and Frank were arrested and charged in August 2014 after police dive teams discovered a key piece of evidence.

A six-week trial will get underway in Red Deer on Oct. 10 as scheduled. 

A total of 131 Jordan applications have been filed in Alberta courts from October 25, 2016 – September 7, 2017. Of them 33 were dismissed by the court, 8 were granted (1 was appealed by the Crown), 33 were abandoned by the defence while 13 were proactively stayed by the Crown.

by Troy Gillard (Twitter: @Troy_Gillard)

What's Trending

all youths involved
Red Deer RCMP respond to downtown stabbing Friday night
Apr 19, 2026
addressing the "missing middle"
Hazlett Lake, west of QEII 'Centrepoint' developments could progress in not-too-distant future
Apr 18, 2026
Available for local businesses
Central Alberta First, RDP launch new Artificial Intelligence workshop series
Apr 17, 2026
Former assistant principal
Kacey Oehlerking named principal of École James S. McCormick School
Apr 17, 2026
Youth released without charges
Stettler RCMP say source of school threat 'may not have been legitimate'
Apr 17, 2026