Overview

• Alberta defence lawyers say Chief Warren Driechel’s public comments about releasing case details amount to a threat to the presiding judge and could jeopardize the sentencing hearing.
• Driechel reiterated that police may disclose additional information after the expected February sentencing so the public can assess whether justice was served.
• The accused pleaded guilty on Sept. 10 to manslaughter in the 2023 death of an eight-year-old girl found in a hockey bag, and prosecutors told court there is no joint sentencing recommendation.
• On Sept. 9, EPS publicly urged the Crown to abandon a plea deal it believed contemplated an eight-year sentence, drawing condemnation from the Canadian Association of Crown Counsel.
• EPS and prosecutors have since met, with some federal prosecutors participating, to address communication failures highlighted by the case.