A Cremona man, a vice-president of a major western Canadian oil services company, has been denied bail on multiple charges he committed an early morning home invasion against his estranged wife and her boyfriend, who was allegedly ìpistol-whippedî in the violent incident.Terry Kuiper, 39, appeared in Didsbury provincial court on Sept. 12 facing 12 Criminal Code charges, including break and enter, uttering threats to cause bodily harm, pointing a firearm, careless use of a firearm, assault and assault with a weapon.At the request of Kuiper's Calgary lawyer, Corey P. Wilson, Judge Eugene Creighton ordered a publication ban on all evidence and information presented at the bail hearing.Kuiper's next appearance in provincial court is scheduled for Sept. 26.Following the Sept. 12 bail hearing Wilson said he would review matters with his client to determine if Creighton's order to deny bail will be appealed to Court of Queen's Bench in Calgary.At the time of Kuiper's arrest on Sept. 9 the accused was vice-president and general manager, Canada, of CanElson Drilling Inc., a position he has held since Feb. 9, 2010.CanElson Drilling Inc. is a Calgary-based leading provider of oilfield services in Western Canada and is also engaged in the manufacture and operation of drilling rigs in Texas, North Dakota and Mexico. CanElson, which has a workforce of up to 400 employees, is publicly traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX).W. Randy Hawkings, the company's president and chief executive officer, was not immediately available last week to comment on Kuiper's current circumstances. However, a company spokesperson issued a statement.ìThe matter involving Mr. Kuiper is a personal matter not involving the company, and as it is before the courts, we are not able to provide any comment at this time,î said the spokesperson, adding no measures have been taken to alter Kuiper's status with CanElson Drilling Inc. ìAs far as we are concerned he is still an employee with the company.îBefore Kuiper's Sept. 12 provincial court bail hearing, Didsbury RCMP said they received a call at about 1:50 a.m. on Sept. 9 alleging that a Cremona man was committing a home invasion at the rural residence of his estranged wife and her male friend. Entry was made into the house through an unlocked door.Mounties said the man had a loaded 9-mm handgun. When encountering the woman and her male friend in a bedroom, the man made death threats, said RCMP.The assailant then ìpistol-whippedî the woman's male friend, said RCMP. He then punched the woman in the face and shoved her, said police.A struggle ensued between the male and the suspect, resulting in the firearm falling to the floor and the suspect fleeing the scene in a vehicle.RCMP said a struggle ensued between the male and the assailant. The loaded 9-mm handgun fell to the floor. The suspect then fled the scene in a vehicle.Police said two children, aged seven and 12, were asleep in the residence and were unharmed. The victims sustained minor injuries that did not require hospitalization, said RCMP.About five hours later at 7 a.m. the suspect was apprehended without incident at his Cremona residence. RCMP said he voluntarily surrendered to police.RCMP said alcohol was a contributing factor in the incident.Police added there was no prior reported history of abuse between the husband and his estranged wife.RCMP said Chinook Arch Victim Services were called to assist the victims.
