BY JAMES NEELEY
The preliminary hearing looking at evidence against the man charged with murdering three members of a family in Medicine Hat, Alta. took place this week.
Jeremy Steinke, now 24, is charged with three counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of Marc Richardson, 42, his wife, Debra, 48, and their eight-year-old son Jacob last April.
Marc Richardson grew up in Sudbury and was buried here. Many of his relatives live in this city.
Police discovered the bodies of three members of the Richardson family in their home on April 23, 2006.
Three females have also been charged in connection with the triple murder.
An emotional three-and-a half hours of disturbing testimony in the preliminary hearing came to a surprise end Tuesday. Half-way through the first of three scheduled days of the hearing, defence waived any further evidence and agreed to trial.
Steinke stood expressionless wearing a black shirt and pants with a small wooden cross dangling from his neck as Judge Gerry Debow handed down his decision in Medicine Hat provincial court.
“You are ordered to stand trial on three counts of first-degree murder,” said Debow.
Alain Hepner, Steinke’s lawyer said he was focusing on two or three areas of evidence during the preliminary hearing.
“I got that information today, I know what I was looking for and I found what I was looking for, so that’s why I waived it,” he stated.
No evidence or witness statements from a preliminary hearing can be published.
Steinke will be arraigned in Court of Queen’s Bench on May 10. At that time a trial date will be set.
Hepner is expecting late fall or early winter at the earliest for the start of the trial.
He added it’s likely the trial won’t begin until early next year.
Steinke will be tried by judge and jury in Court of Queen’s Bench.
The preliminary hearing was the first opportunity, after 11 months, for the family to get some answers.
Steinke’s mother Jacqueline May, cried openly but quietly as the difficult details flowed.
Hepner explained the legal proceedings have been very tough on all involved.
“It’s a tragic set of circumstances for both families.”
Steinke will remain in custody until his next appearance, and likely until he stands trial, according to Hepner.
Steinke has been in jail since his arrest on April 24. If the trial is delayed until the new year, he will have spent more than 20 months in custody.
In the time since Steinke’s first court appearance following his arrest, along with the co-accused girl, 12 at the time, in Leader, Sask., he has grown from a lean young man with a boyish face into an imposing figure.
Steinke showed little or no expression gazing either straight ahead or down at his feet with little movement throughout the three-plus hour hearing. He seemingly made little attempt to connect with his grief-stricken mother.
The co-accused 13-year-old girl, who cannot be identified under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, is set to stand trial on three counts of first-degree murder June 4 in Court of Queen’s Bench.
Hepner says he will monitor the 13-year-old girl’s trial closely.
Since the original arrest of Steinke and the girl, two other females have been charged in connection with the triple murder.
Kacy Lancaster, 19, and a 16-year-old girl are charged with accessory to murder after the fact.
James Neeley is a reporter for the Medicine Hat News.
