RCMP in Didsbury, Alta., have laid conspiracy to commit murder and other charges against four people in connection with two assault investigations that began earlier this month.
On March 14, a man was attacked while on a walk in Didsbury, a small town about 80 kilometres north of Calgary. The victim was repeatedly hit from behind with an object, likely an iron rod of some sort, RCMP Cpl. Curtis Peters said.
An investigation revealed it was a case of mistaken identity and the victim wasn’t the intended target, police said in a news release Tuesday.
The man didn’t need to be hospitalized and has recovered from his injuries.
Two days later, another man was attacked outside a business in Didsbury and was knocked unconscious.
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Police said this man was the intended target and that both assaults were committed by the same people.
Police said the assault is in connection with an alleged plot to kill the intended victim over a child custody dispute.
“There was an ongoing conflict between the victim and one of the accused, and they made a plan to get rid of him,” Peters said.
Later on March 23, police executed a search warrant on a residence in the Mountain View County area.
“It was the home of one of the accused, also where the planning to go after the victim allegedly took place,” Peters said.
Investigators found a firearm, stolen property and some drugs.
Police have charged four people in connection with this case:
- Joseph Jerry Aubut, 31, has been charged with 14 criminal offences, including conspiracy to commit murder, aggravated assault, assault, possession of stolen property, possession of a controlled substance, various weapons offences, and several fail to comply with condition offences
- Donna Marie Faulkner, 36, is charged with 11 criminal offences, including conspiracy to commit murder, aggravated assault, assault, possession of stolen property, possession of a controlled substance, various weapons offences, and fail to comply with condition offences
- Jesse James Hoffman, 27, is charged with 11 criminal offences, including conspiracy to commit murder, aggravated assault, possession of stolen property, possession of a controlled substance, various weapons offences, and fail to comply with condition offences
- Austin Cody Jay Graham, 22, is charged with conspiracy to commit murder.
All four individuals have been remanded in custody and will appear in court April 9 in Didsbury.
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