The pair charged in connection to the death of Lorenzo “Billie” Bearspaw made their first appearance in Cochrane Provincial Court on Tuesday.
The hearing was adjourned to mid-February for John Stephens, 29, and Deangelo Powderface, 22, both facing first-degree murder charges.
Three suspects, all from Stoney Nakoda First Nation, were identified in the murder of Lorenzo Bearspaw after Special Tactical Operations and Police Dog Services discovered Bearspaw’s body on Jan. 6.
One of the suspects, Ralph Stephens, 27, died after being shot by police during the arrest.
During the execution of the arrest warrants on Jan. 7, RCMP Major Crimes and RCMP Emergency Response Team (ERT) observed several people in the house on the Stoney Nakoda First Nation – among them was suspect John Stephens, who was immediately located and taken into custody without incident.
When officers attempted to enter the basement, they were fired upon. The police deployed tear gas and retreated to safety upstairs, while the rest of people present were taken outside for safety.
Later, Ralph Stephens, armed with a shotgun, climbed through the basement window where police had the house surrounded and engaged in a confrontation with officers.
Stephens was shot and seriously injured. He succumbed to his injuries in hospital an hour later.
Deangelo Powderface turned himself in later that evening.
Prior to being reported missing, Bearspaw was last seen on Jan. 1 getting into a vehicle with other males following a New Year’s Eve party. This vehicle was later located abandoned in a ditch.
The case is currently going through the Cochrane Provincial Court system.
The court has issued a publication ban on future proceedings.
