Robert John Sheppard attempted murder trial continues as LPS officers testify

Jun 10, 2019 | 3:33 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Four spent shell casings were found at a home on Heritage Boulevard on the evening of April 15, 2018. It was the same night, 49-year-old Erica Grintals testified on May 24, that Robert John Sheppard came to her home with a loaded gun and fired as the two argued.

The trial began May 23, and continued May 24 with testimony from not only Grintals, but also her son and his girlfriend. The trial continued Monday June 10, with testimony from LPS Cst. Rob Bittman with the Forensic Identification Unit, and firearms expert Cst. Mat Rilkoff.

Sheppard is facing 15 charges, including attempted murder, four counts of assault with a weapon, carrying a concealed weapon and unauthorized possession of a firearm. Defense lawyer Andre Ouellette is not expected to call any witnesses.

Cst. Rob Bittman testified he was called to a home on Heritage Boulevard on Lethbridge’s west side, after other officers had already arrived at the scene. Several areas on the ground had already been marked for evidence.

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Bittman says four spent shell casings were found, while four bullet holes were also located in the home’s back door/door frame, two holes in glass and an inner screen, and the edge of a wood frame for a window.

Bullet fragments were also found near a furnace room, a water tank and on the furnace room floor.

In Sheppard’s red Nissan Pathfinder, a rifle was also found in the backseat with one round that had not been fired.

The rifle, testified Cst. Mat Rilkoff, was a semi-automatic gun that could hold five bullets in the magazine and there had been no external modifications made to the gun. Only one round could be fired for every pull of the trigger. Spent shell casings would eject into the air.

Rilkoff also told the court Sheppard had no authorization to own firearms.

Crown and defense closing arguments will take place on Tuesday, June 11.

by Lara Fominoff with files from Aaron Mahoney