The trial for a Nacmine man charged with manslaughter began Monday.
Calvin Wade Laughlin is charged with manslaughter in the death of Austin Neil McMaster. He elected for a trial in Court of Queen’s Bench with a Judge and Jury. The charges date back to May of 2011.
In the early morning hours of May 2, 2011 McMaster, 55 was found unconscious and beaten on a boulevard at the intersection of Red Deer Avenue and Hunter Drive in Nacmine. He was taken by STARS to Calgary.
Laughlin was initially charged with aggravated assault. McMaster was subsequently taken off life support and died on Wednesday, May 4, 2011. Laughlin was then charged with manslaughter, and released on $5,000 bail.
It has been a long road to trial for Laughlin. In August of 2013, Stephen Bitzer, who was hired as counsel for Laughlin, asked to be withdrawn from the case against Laughlin’s will. The request came just two weeks before a preliminary enquiry was to be held.
A preliminary enquiry was finally held on May 29 and 30 of 2014 with Laughlin representing himself. He was committed to stand trial.
Jury selection was held on Monday, the trial is scheduled to run two weeks.
