A man accused of committing murder on New Year’s Day during a house party in Prince Albert where a number of young adults had gathered has elected to be tried by judge alone.
Richard Budd, 21, appeared by video Thursday morning at Prince Albert Provincial Court. He’s facing a charge of second degree murder in the death of 20-year-old Alex Whitehead,
In addition to the election, a preliminary hearing date was also set for Jan. 9 and 10. At the conclusion of the hearing, the judge will determine if the Crown’s evidence is strong enough for Budd to face trial.
Several members of the victim’s family were in court Thursday, including Whitehead’s sister and mother. Charmaine Poorman said she wishes the preliminary hearing could come sooner.
“I sit there and I picture what happened to my brother every single time and then it just sickens me and hurts even more when its pushed along and along. I get we are getting it dealt with and it takes time to do all that, but it still hurts,” she said.
Alex Whitehead graduated from Meath Park school, and was an accomplished track athlete and basketball player. (Submitted photo/ Charmaine Poorman)As Budd appeared on the screen, family members sitting in the gallery were observed staring intensely at him.
“I cannot describe the words I feel when I look at him. I felt anger as soon as I looked, and I felt shaking. I felt a pit in my stomach,” Poorman explained.
Whitehead’s mother, Maria, had not seen Budd until today and she too described feelings of anger. She said she wants to know why someone would do this.
“It didn’t only traumatize us as being Alex’s family but his girlfriend, his friends, and everybody that was there. They’re all traumatized for being at that spot,” she said.
On the morning of the incident, just before 4 a.m., police responded to a Midtown residence after a complaint of a weapons discharge. Whitehead’s girlfriend,. who was also at the party, told paNOW it was just a gathering for friends, and some people who had been told to leave, returned and caused trouble.
Whitehead died in hospital, after initially being found at the residence suffering from life-threatening injuries.
Upon the completion of the hearing in January, the case will proceed to Court of Queen’s Bench for a pre-trial hearing, where they will then set a trial date.
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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com
On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell
