A lawyer representing Dustin Piper of Olds, who is accused of murdering Airdrie resident Garland Curtis in January, entered a plea of not guilty for Piper in an Airdrie courtroom on July 18.
A lawyer representing Dustin Piper of Olds, who is accused of murdering Airdrie resident Garland Curtis in January, entered a plea of not guilty for Piper in an Airdrie courtroom on July 18.
Piper, 24, who has been in custody since his arrest in Didsbury on March 16, appeared by closed-circuit television from the Calgary Remand Centre during the hearing.
Clean cut and wearing a blue jumpsuit, Piper only spoke to say "Yes sir" or "Thank you" when addressed by the judge.
Although lawyer Krysia Przepiorka made the plea on behalf of Piper's council, Rebecca Snukal, Justice Pat McIlhargey said Piper would have to make an official plea in a Calgary arraignment court as the Airdrie court did not have jurisdiction to accept the plea.
That hearing is scheduled for Sept. 13.
McIlhargey also ordered Piper to appear in person in arraignment court.
Przepiorka told the court Piper has chosen not to have a preliminary inquiry in the matter and has elected to have his case heard by a judge and jury.
Piper is charged with first-degree murder in connection to Curtis' death.
The 40-year-old man was found dead in his Airdrie home on Jan. 10 after a co-worker in Fort McMurray reported him missing.
Police have said Piper and Curtis knew each other.
Although police have not provided details about how they knew each other, a man who attended a previous court appearance for Piper and told reporters he was in a relationship with the accused at the time of his arrest said Piper and Curtis had been romantically involved.
Curtis' 1994 Saturn sedan was discovered abandoned at a business in Olds on Jan. 21 and police said the vehicle was driven here following the murder.
The first-degree murder charge against Piper has not been proved in court.
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