By Patrick Burles - @PatrickBurles on Twitter

Attempted murder case slowed as third lawyer steps in

Oct 30, 2018 | 11:31 AM

LETHBRIDGE – Delays continue to mount for a 32-year-old Lethbridge man facing a variety of charges, including attempted murder.

More than six months after his arrest in the early morning hours of April 16, Robert Sheppard’s case has made little progress and he is now onto his third lawyer. Both previous defence counsel – Tonii Roulston and Frank Llewellyn – withdrew after citing a breakdown in the solicitor-client relationship.

An agent appearing for Sheppard’s new lawyer, William Wister, addressed the court Tuesday morning, Oct. 30, asking for an adjournment to Dec. 5, at which time they plan to run a bail hearing.

It was noted by Crown prosecutor Clayton Giles that they were prepared to run the hearing immediately but acknowledged that there is a significant amount of disclosure for the defence to review in order to be fully prepared. Giles consented to the adjournment, while making it clear that the delay should only be attributed to the defence.

Sheppard currently has two separate matters before the court.

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The most recent involves an alleged incident from earlier this year. Around 9 p.m. on April 15, Lethbridge Police responded to reports of shots being fired at a home along Heritage Blvd. West.

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.

Sheppard was charged with attempted murder, 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.

The second case dates back to April 29, 2016. While very few details are available, the indictment shows 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.

That matter is scheduled for trial in September of 2019.