More letters read at murder and extortion trial

That letter and others were presented at the trial of Robert Hoefman.

He is on trial for first-degree murder in the Oct. 11, 2017 death of James Satre and for extortion. Prosecutors believe Satre was a random victim chosen to further the extortion attempt, the target of which is under a publication ban.

Sgt. Randy Teel was the primary investigator on the extortion file in October 2017.

In court today he read a series of letters that detailed the instructions given to the extortion target and the consequences of not following through on them.

The letters included instructions for delivery of the money demanded as part of the extortion.

Another letter was delivered to the target on Nov. 7 and read in court by Teel.

It gave more instructions for a money drop and threatened chaos throughout the entire city if the instructions were not followed or if authorities were involved.

Teel also testified that he was part of the team that arrested Hoefman at his residence and executed a search warrant there on Nov. 8.

In earlier testimony on Monday, the manner in which evidence was collected on Nov. 13 from the residence of the accused was called into question. Teel was the first officer on the scene.

Const. Marshall Armstrong, a member of the Medicine Hat police forensic unit who collected evidence that day, said he saw no protective plastic sheets on a stand where two pieces of clothing had been placed when he arrived to photograph and seize the items.

He also acknowledged the sticks used to test stains for blood were expired.

Today’s concerns raised by defence counsel follow earlier questions about how police handled evidence.

The trial continues Tuesday.

by Chris Brown

More letters read at murder and extortion trial

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