Simon Danny Scout (in white) leaves the Lethbridge Courthouse with friends

By Lara Fominoff

Manslaughter charge against Simon Danny Scout stayed; five-week trial comes to an end

Oct 9, 2019 | 12:47 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – One day after his co-accused had his charge of manslaughter dismissed because of the inadmissibility of a statement and videotaped confession, 21-year-old Simon Danny Scout’s manslaughter charge was also stayed by the Crown.

The two men were originally charged with second-degree murder, in the death of 45-year-old Kenrick First Rider, in the basement of a home along 9 Ave. N. in Lethbridge. The charges were reduced to manslaughter on the first day, of what was scheduled to be a six-week trial.

In a statement, Lethbridge Police said a verbal argument broke out between the men on the night of Nov. 27, 2017, which then escalated into a fatal physical altercation.

On Tuesday (Oct.8), Justice Johnna Kubik dismissed the case against 25-year-old Rylan James Twigg, after she ruled that his “constellation” of cognitive disabilities, combined with the physical consequences of consuming 40-ounces of vodka and snorting two tabs of fentanyl prior to his arrest, rendered his confession involuntary.

She said that Twigg had no understanding that what he said to Lethbridge Police would eventually be used against him.

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With the dismissal of the confession and statement, the Crown on Wednesday, stayed the charge against Scout. He had been earlier released on bail, on the condition that he return to court each day during the trial and abide by several conditions.

Both the Crown and Scout’s Defense Lawyer Vince Guinan did not wish to make a statement. It’s not clear at this time whether the Crown will appeal the dismissal of Twigg’s confession and statement to police.