By Patrick Burles - @PatrickBurles on Twitter

Attempted murder case on hold as accused seeks legal aid coverage

May 11, 2018 | 1:13 PM

LETHBRIDGE – A Lethbridge man facing four counts of attempted murder has had his case adjourned to June 1, as he continues to work to retain a lawyer on those charges.

An agent from Stringam LLP spoke on behalf of 32-year-old Robert John Sheppard –  who appeared in court via CCTV from the Lethbridge Correctional Centre Friday morning, May 11 – explaining that they are in communication with legal aid to get coverage, so they can handle the matter. It was noted that one of their lawyers, Frank Llewellyn, is already representing Sheppard on previous sexual assault charges dating back to 2016, which are scheduled for trial in September. It’s their intention to have Llewellyn take on the new charges as well.

Crown prosecutor Clayton Giles agreed to the adjournment, stating that they intend to seek the revocation of Sheppard’s bail on the previous charges, and that legal counsel should be fully retained before things advance.

The most recent charges are connected to an incident along Heritage Blvd. West on April 15. Around 9 p.m., members of the Lethbridge Police Service tactical team and frontline officers responded to reports of shots being fired at a home. Four people managed to escape safely, and police cordoned off the area and searched the home. They then shifted their attention to the suspect’s residence in Dalhousie Court West, and he was finally located and arrested by the RCMP near Granum, following a pursuit.

During a media availability with LPS, Staff Sgt. Ryan Stef said the matter appeared to be a domestic-violence related incident, adding that the victims knew the suspect.

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In addition to the attempted murder charges, Sheppard is also charged with discharging a firearm into a place, resisting arrest, careless use of a firearm, careless storage of a firearm, pointing a firearm, assault, possession of a dangerous weapon, unauthorized possession of a firearm, unauthorized possession in a vehicle, possession of a weapon obtained by the commission of an offence, and carrying a concealed weapon.

Other charges before the court

The previous charges that the Crown is seeking to have Sheppard’s bail revoked on, relate to an alleged incident at or near Coalhurst on April 29, 2016.

After securing a copy of the indictment in that case, Lethbridge News Now has learned that Sheppard faces charges of sexual assault with a weapon, sexual assault causing bodily harm, uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm, and two counts of possession of a weapon for the purpose of committing an offence.

A three-day trial in Court of Queen’s Bench is currently scheduled for September on those charges.