Lethbridge Courthouse

By Lara Fominoff

Trial comes to an end

Closing arguments delivered in Robert John Sheppard attempted murder trial

Jun 11, 2019 | 1:57 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – The shooting at a home on Heritage Boulevard West in Lethbridge April 15, 2018 was “a manifestation of anger and hatred” at the end of a relationship, argued Co-Crown Prosecutor Clayton Giles, as he delivered his closing arguments in the Robert John Sheppard attempted murder trial in Lethbridge Provincial Court Tuesday, June 11.

Sheppard was facing 15 charges including attempted murder, four counts of assault with a weapon, and several firearms related charges. During closing arguments Giles invited an acquittal of the three counts of assault with a weapon.

The trial, which took place over two days in late May and continued Monday June 10, saw testimony from Sheppard’s former girlfriend Erika Grintals, her son and his girlfriend, and two Lethbridge Police officers.

Grintals testified earlier in the trial that she had been trying to end her relationship with Sheppard, but that he became irate because she didn’t answer his texts or phone calls. Sheppard came to her home April 15, and the two argued in her back yard. He then told her he had a gun and 9,000 rounds of ammunition in his vehicle.

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She then told the court she ran into her home to tell the kids to turn off all music, the lights and to call 9-1-1. She then went back outside and saw Sheppard carrying what appeared to be a bag for a long gun. He then pushed her back against a basement door and walked towards his bag. Grintals got up, turned around and ran back into the house and up the stairs with her son and his girlfriend. Another friend in the home remained in the home unharmed.

While Grintals said she never saw a gun, she testified she heard several gunshots. Lethbridge Police Cst. Rob Bittman told the court June 10 four bullets went into the home.

Giles argued the there had been much emotional investment in the relationship, and when it was ending, the anger and hatred ran deep on Sheppard’s part.

He also told the court it appeared as though the gun may have already been loaded when Sheppard brought it into the back yard, and if he wanted to scare Grintals, he could have fired shots into the air.

However, the fact that four bullets fired in quick succession from a rifle meant to kill went into Grintals’ home seconds after she ran into it, demonstrated he intended to kill her.

Defense lawyer Andre Ouellette however, said he disagreed with the idea that the gun had already been loaded, and that Sheppard meant to try and kill his ex-girlfriend.

“At no time did he threaten her or say I’m going to kill you,” argued Ouellette.

Ouellette also told the court that Sheppard knew the home well, and that all of the shots went towards the back of the home, not towards the staircase where Grintals fled.

The intent, he told the judge, was to perhaps threaten or wound her, but not to kill her.

Giles countered Ouellette’s statement that if the SKS semi-automatic rifle was not loaded prior to Sheppard opening fire it could be considered more egregious, because Sheppard then took the time to load his weapon knowing he was going to shoot it at someone.

At the conclusion of arguments, the judge told the court he was not prepared to deliver a verdict right away, rather, a date has been set for June 28 to find a time when a verdict and sentence would be delivered.