MEDICINE HAT, AB – The primary investigator in the first-degree murder and extortion trial of Robert Hoefman testified today, the final witness of the week.
Staff Sgt. Ryan Thorburn testified he was involved with the cases from the start.
He assisted Sgt. Randy Teel on the extortion investigation on Oct. 10 2017, and the following day was assigned as the primary investigator in the death of James Satre.
The two investigations were kept separate for about a week before growing overlap between them saw them merged on Oct. 17.
Thorburn remained the primary investigator.
In his testimony he provided more context to what court had already heard, including a bag drop operation in which the bag was temporarily lost but did lead to Medicine Hat police’s first encounter with the accused.
Thorburn also said shoe print evidence at the scene where an extortion letter was left on Nov. 7 and concerns about public safety and evidence loss led to the arrest of Hoefman on Nov. 8.
This morning heard from a DNA expert this morning
Linda Rhodenizer from the RCMP’s forensics lab took the court through DNA testing done on a variety of items that previously been entered into evidence.
She testified finding DNA matching the accused on envelopes from extortion letters that had been delivered to or placed at different areas in Medicine Hat.
Rhodenizer tested items gathered at the murder scene and from the residence of the accused such as articles of clothing and eyeglasses.
DNA from both Hoefman and Satre was found on those items.
Prosecutors believe Satre was a random victim used to further the extortion plot, the target of which cannot be named under a court-ordered publication ban.
The trial continues Monday.
