Spring hearing scheduled for Reitmeier and Sturrup

Hearing set for skinheads charged with murder

 
By Daryl Slade, Calgary Herald September 16, 2011

A three-week preliminary hearing has been set to begin next spring for two known white supremacists facing second-degree murder charges in connection with the death of Mark Mariani last October.

Provincial court Judge Anne Brown set the hearing on Thursday to begin May 28 for Robert David Reitmeier, 24, and Tyler William Sturrup, 26.

The hearing will determine if there is sufficient evidence to take the case to a trial, to be heard before a judge and jury.

The so-called skinheads will be back in court Feb. 28, to finalize the issues for the preliminary hearing, in order for prosecutor Susan Karpa and defence lawyers Nick D'Souza (for Reitmeier) and Tonii Roulston (for Sturrup) to possibly reduce the time it will take to complete.

The accused are suspected leaders of the Western European Bloodline white pride group - one of two known white supremacist groups in Calgary since the disbanding of the Aryan Guard.

They were charged earlier this year with causing the death of Mariani, 47, who was attacked in an alley in the 1500 block of 16th Avenue N.W.

Police investigators have said although the two suspects are white supremacists, there is no indication that affiliation had any connection to the apparently unprovoked crime.

Both men remain in custody and have been prohibited from having any contact with each other, except through counsel or to further their legal proceedings.

Reitmeier is also accused of an unrelated sexual assault and unlawful confinement of a woman at a party in April 2009, as well as failing to comply with probation conditions.

dslade@calgaryherald.com

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