Albert Giesbrecht, the 亚洲天堂 Lake resident charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death of Raymond George Bishop, appeared in the 亚洲天堂 Lake Provincial Court on May 23, 2017.

Giesbrecht鈥檚 next court appearance, this time in the Supreme Court, is set for June 19 in Smithers. This will be a judicial interim release hearing (bail hearing) - a court hearing where a judge decides whether to release the accused person from custody while they wait for their trial or some other result.

鈥淎n accused person is entitled to a release or 鈥榖ail鈥� hearing once he鈥檚 been arrested, but because he鈥檚 been arrested for a first-degree murder offense, the onus is on him to show cause why he should be released,鈥� explained Dan McLaughlin, a spokesperson with the Criminal Justice Branch.

鈥淣ormally the onus is on the Crown to show why someone should be detained; but in this case, because of the nature of the offense and the provisions of the Criminal Code, the onus is essentially reversed.鈥�

McLaughlin said it鈥檚 not uncommon for defence counsels to ask for a judicial interim release hearing to be adjourned. This allows the defence counsel more time to make a case.

鈥淲hether a judicial intern release hearing actually proceeds is really up to him [Giesbrecht] and his counsel,鈥� added McLaughlin.

The 亚洲天堂 Lake RCMP found Bishop deceased on the Southside on May 18, 2017 after receiving multiple calls from local residents at around 6:30 a.m. North District Major Crime and forensic experts were called to the community to assist the 亚洲天堂 Lake RCMP with this investigation.

Police wish to remind the public that anyone with information on this homicide to call the 亚洲天堂 Lake RCMP at 250-692-7171 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.