An appeal by a Medicine Hat man convicted of first-degree murder and extortion has been denied. (Photo: CHAT News Today)

By Canadian Press

Appeal denied for Medicine Hat man convicted of $1-million extortion, random murder

Jul 4, 2023 | 12:58 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Alberta’s top court has denied an appeal for a man found guilty of trying to extort a businessman of $1 million and killing a random stranger.

Robert Hoefman had argued that much of the evidence against him was obtained illegally, such as through CCTV cameras.

The Court of Appeal, however, ruled that he had no reasonable expectation of privacy in those cases and further found police did not violate his rights.

The three-member panel said that none of the new evidence Hoefman introduced at his appeal hearing aided his case.

In his 2017 trial in Medicine Hat, Alta., court heard that Hoefman sent a number of letters to the business owner demanding the money.

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The Crown argued Hoefman then stabbed a 63-year-old man with no connection to the case as a warning.

(The Canadian Press)

READ MORE: Medicine Hat man found guilty of murder and extortion

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