CALGARY – The Stoney Nakoda youth charged in connection with the 2018 shooting of a German tourist on Highway 1A is heading to trial next Monday (July 15).
The youth is facing 14 separate charges including attempted murder, discharging a firearm with intent and possession of a prohibited weapon. The trial will take place in Calgary at the Court of Queen’s Bench.
The early August 2018 incident left Horst Stewin, a German tourist who was visiting Canada, with a bullet in his brain, as he was transported back to Germany soon afterwards. The bullet was later removed by German doctors and sent back to Canada for ballistics testing.
Stewin was travelling with his family, his wife, his son and his son’s girlfriend, coming from the Nakoda Lodge and driving on the 1A Highway when he was shot by a suspect in a dark colour vehicle that sent him off the road and crashing into trees. He was then airlifted to hospital from the scene. No one else in the vehicle was seriously injured.
Initial reports believed the incident to be related to road rage, but Cpl. Curtis Peters with the southern Alberta RCMP later told the Outlook that he believed there was “no conflict” leading up to the shooting. Peters could not go into further detail due to the upcoming trial.
The same day of the shooting, a GoFundMe was set up by Hubertus Liebrecht, the Honorary Consul of the Federal Republic of Germany, as a way to help cover costs for the family. A post explained that Stewin’s wife only had his credit card and could not “remember his pin in all her emotions.”
“In addition the family members’ clothing was soiled, hotels needed to be booked and international calls to Germany were being made,” Liebrecht wrote.
“That is the moment when you need help from other people. You all have showed that you were there in a spontaneous and heart touching way. The real Canadians are extremely wonderful people.”
The GoFundMe also explained the extent of Stewin’s “severe and life-changing” injuries, including not being able to talk or move his right side.
More than $13,000 was raised, exceeding the initial goal of $8,500.
The youth was granted bail last November by Justice Peter Barley in Calgary Provincial Court, the same month the youth turned 17. The identity of the accused is protected under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
Bail was set at $2,500 and conditional on the accused staying in a house with a responsible guardian, with the exception of going to hockey or attending school. Release conditions included having their passport revoked, a prohibition on possessing a firearm and to refrain from using intoxicating substances.
The trial is scheduled for two weeks.
– With files from the Cochrane Eagle
