Supporters of rural homeowner accused of shooting trespasser want laws changed
Edouard Maurice facing charges of aggravated assault, pointing a firearm and careless use of a firearm
Approximately 150 supporters of a southern Alberta homeowner accused of shooting a trespasser rallied outside the Okotoks courthouse on Friday,as Eddie Maurice made his first appearance on firearms and assault charges.
Maurice, 33, was charged aftershots were fired on his property in the Okotoksarea, wounding a suspected thief.
The court appearance on Friday morning concluded with the matter beingput over until April 6.
The situation has fuelleddebate about how far rural landowners can go in defending their property.
"At this point, the landowners are left feeling they have no other choice but to arm themselves," said George Clark, organizer of the rally in support of Eddie MauriceinOkotoks.
"We're actually looking for some sort of changes within the system that allow rural homeowners and landowners to become their own trained first response."
The issue of landowners demanding more rights to defend their property and themselves soared back into the public eye in 2016 after Saskatchewan farmer Gerald Stanley shot and killed Colten Boushie, a passenger in a car that entered his property. The debate has intensified when Stanley was acquitted last month after arguing at trial that his gun fired accidentally.
Police were called to the property near Okotoksin the early morning hours on Feb. 24 whena number of shots were fired afterthehomeownersaw someonerummaging through his vehicles.
Two people fled the scene but one man suffering an arm injurywas located soon after.
Ryan Watson is charged with trespassing, mischief to property, theft under $5,000, possession of methamphetamine and failure to comply with probation.
As Maurice andhis family arrived at the courthouse on Friday, defence lawyer ToniiRoulstonthanked the crowd for supporting her client.
"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."
Rural property crime jumped 41%
Landowners are expressing support for Maurice, and have raised nearly $11,000 online for the family's legal defence.
Speaking before the rally, Clark said rural property owners are easy targets and echoedmany landowners' concerns: "There's simply far too much of it."
Online, localsare complaining about slow police response times and an increase in rural crime.
The ranchers aren't wrong; between 2013 and 2017 rural property crimes are up 41 per cent,according toRCMP, though spokesperson Cpl. CurtisPeters says some of that increase can beattributedto an increase in reporting.
Cory Morgan a blogger and once-candidate for the former Wildrose party in Calgary says people defending their family and property should not face criminal repercussions.
"As has become an unfortunate trend in Canada, the victim is treated as the criminal should they choose to defend their family and property from intruders."
Duncan Milne, who lives in Didsbury,attended the rally and expressed similar frustration.
"We can't do bugger all to protect ourselves," he said.
Milne says those who are committing crimes aren't being punished sufficiently.
"Put him in jail and leave them there. I don't care, just throw away the damn keys. I'm tired of it," he said.
"Until somebody gets killed, nobody's going to look at it seriously, and that's what we're looking at right here. Somebody took a shot at somebody."
Maurice is currently out on bail.
With files from Colleen Underwood and Mike Symington
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