Charges dropped against rural Alberta homeowner accused of shooting trespasser

All charges have been dropped against a rural Alberta homeowner accused of shooting a trespasser on his property near Okotoks.

Eddie Maurice, 33, was charged aftera suspected thief was wounded whenshots were fired on Maurice's property on Feb. 24.

On Friday morning at the Okotoks courthouse, Crown prosecutor Jim Sawa withdrew charges ofaggravated assault, pointing a firearm and careless use of a firearm.

He said the Crown has conceded there isno reasonable likelihood of conviction because of new information that had just come to light.

The courtroom erupted in applause at that news.

Maurice had said all along thatwhen he saw thieves on his property, he fired a warning shot, and that it was a ricochet bullet that struck the intruder.

Ballistics report compelling

On Friday, Sawasaid the Crown had recentlyreceived a firearms report supporting that story.

"That information was compelling, to say the least, and it had a direct impact on the decision today to withdraw the charges," he said.

Sawa saidhe isn't able to elaborate on the report because of the twoprosecutions of the alleged trespassers.

Maurice spoke to reporters outside a short time after the charges against him were dropped.

"I never really have had to encounter or endure anything like this. It's just overwhelming the people who have taken the time just to come out and support this," he said. "It's really kept our heads above water."

Supporters have rallied at each of Maurice's previous court appearances, framing the case around the issue of rural landowners' rights to defend their property.

The situation fuelleddebate about how far rural landowners can go when faced with those situations.

The shooting on Maurice's property occurredweeks after a Saskatchewan farmer was found not guiltyafter killing a young Indigenous man who had driven onto his property with a group of friends.

Gerald Stanleyhad been charged with second-degree murder after shooting ColtenBoushiein the headinAugust 2016. That case hadinflamed tensions Canada-wide between Indigenous populations and rural landowners.

Defence lawyer Tonii Roulstonhad previously said she wanted to see the charges against Maurice withdrawn or stayed.

Suspected thief charged

Police were called to Maurice's property at about 5 a.m. MT on Feb. 24 for reports of shots being fired. Maurice told officers he saw someonerummaging through his vehicles

Two people fled the scene but one suspect was located soon after, suffering from an injury.

Ryan Watson, who had been shot in the arm, was charged with trespassing, mischief and theft. A second person on the property during the incident was charged as well.

Rural property crime is a growing issueacross the Prairies.

The province recently announcedincreased funding of $10 millionto address rural crime.

Police areurging people not to engage with trespassers, rather to immediately report incidents but rural residents feel police response times are often too slow.

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