Cheers of support welcomed an Okotoks-area man as he arrived in court to face charges laid after he allegedly confronted thieves on his property last month.
Cheers of support welcomed an Okotoks-area man as he arrived in court to face charges laid after he allegedly confronted thieves on his property last month.
More than 100 people came from across the Foothills and southern Alberta to attend a rally at Okotoks Provincial Court when Edouard Maurice made his first appearance on March. 9.
Maurice, joined by his wife and infant child, made no comments during a brief court appearance or to the crowd gathered outside.
Defence lawyer Tonii Roulston said her client and his family are in an unfortunate situation.
"These are individuals who have had no interaction with the criminal justice system," she said. "This is an unfortunate and unfair position that they've been placed in."
The case was adjourned until April 6 to provide more time for Roulston and Maurice to obtain additional disclosure from the Crown prosecutors office.
Maurice faces charges of aggravated assault, pointing a firearm and careless use of a firearm in relation to a Feb. 24 incident on his property when he allegedly discharged a firearm after encountering two individuals rummaging through his vehicles.
Crown prosecutor Jillian Pawlow told Judge Michael Dinkel the Crown is proceeding as an indictable offence.
Rally organizers say they support Maurice.
"I have nothing but respect for Mr. Maurice in going outside to confront whatever issue was at hand rather than wait until possibly there was a threat to his family inside his house," said Calgary resident George Clark.
He said homeowners who confront thieves on their property should only be charged as a last resort.
"That sends a message to the thieves that they are not being protected by a system that's automatically going to charge the people who are trying to protect themselves," said Clark.
Priddis-area resident Cory Morgan, who helped promote the rally, said the turnout sends a message people want changes to laws to ensure rural residents are able to protect themselves and their homes when criminals come on their property.
"People are concerned," he said. "They feel for Maurice's family and they feel for themselves. These are a lot of people out living in the same circumstances. They could've been in the same position."
Nanton-area resident Vern Habraken said he came out to support Maurice.
Holding a sign that read "Keep your city out of my country," Habraken said incidences of rural crime are getting worse and people need to be able to protect their property in the face of thieves
"I think we have to protect our stuff," he said.
Didsbury-area resident Duncan Milne said rural crime is a widespread problem across the province.
"This is happening everywhere," he said.
Milne said he hopes the rally shows authorities that people want to see action to combat rural crime.
He said RCMP have long response times to rural areas and the Province and federal government need to step up to increase funding to get more RCMP officers on the front lines.
"The government needs to step up and get more RCMP; the RCMP need to step up and get more people through Regina," said Milne, referring to the RCMP training depot in Saskatchewan.
Rural residents accept response times for emergency services will be longer in the country than in towns or cities; however, he said they can't be sitting ducks left to wait if thieves have targeted their property.
"We should be able to live in the country and feel safe in our own homes and our yards," said Milne.
