Evidence commenced Monday to determine if Calgary police Const. Craig Stothard will stand trial for murder in the fatal shooting of two suspects more than three years ago.<\/p>\n
Justice Mark Mastel ordered a publication ban on the evidence being presented by Crown prosecutor Jeff Rudiak, at the request of defence counsel Don MacLeod.<\/p>\n
“The first order of business, as I often forget, is simply to seek a ban on publication,” MacLeod told Mastel.<\/p>\n
“I think it’s appropriate,” Rudiak added.<\/p>\n
Mastel noted that when such an application is made by the defence the court is required to grant it, so he issued the ban.<\/p>\n
Rudiak indicated he’d be calling 23 witnesses over the course of the hearing, which is scheduled for two weeks.<\/p>\n
But the prosecutor indicated to Mastel his witnesses are currently scheduled to conclude next Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Rudiak also made the standard request for an order excluding witnesses until they are called to testify.<\/p>\n
“That would be prudent, in my submission,” MacLeod added.<\/p>\n
Stothard faces two charges of second-degree murder in connection with the May 29, 2023, fatal shootings of Levon Fox, 39, and Wesley Davidson, 46.<\/p>\n
The Alberta Serious Response Team (ASIRT) announced the charges on July 15, 2025, more than two years after the deadly incident.<\/p>\n
Stothard appeared in Calgary Court of King’s Bench prior to the ASIRT announcement and was granted his release on conditions before the allegations were made public.<\/p>\n