Crown fast-tracks University of Alberta shooting case

Crown prosecutors have decided to fast track the caseagainst Travis Baumgartner,chargedin the June robbery on the University of Alberta campus that left three armed guards dead and one wounded.

Baumgartner is charged with three counts of murder and one count of attempted murder in the shooting at the HUB Mall on campus.

A directed indictment in the case was filed with Alberta Court of Queen's Bench on Tuesday.

Thatmeans the Crown seeks to skip a preliminary hearing, which determines if there is enough evidence to go to trial.

Instead, the casewould proceed directly to trial.

"Anything that saves dragging on a painful process is good news," said Peter Ernst, the father of Michelle Shegelski, oneof the guards."I am happy that its proceeding."

Family members of Eddie Rejano also expressedrelief the trial will be held sooner rather than later.

Baumgartner was one of five G4S security guards who were making a cash delivery to an ATM at the HUB Mall on campus June 15.

The 21-year-old is accused of shooting the other four guards, killing three of them, andfleeing with the money.

He was arrested the next day trying to enter the United States at a border crossing in B.C.

Baumgartner will appear in court onSept. 7 for a trial date to be set.

Last week, friends and family of Brian Ilesic, one of the guards killed in the shooting,held a fundraiser to provide money for the mans 12-year-old daughter.