Robison must wait until April 11 for judge’s decision on bail

Sawyer Clarke Robison, 27, of Sedgewick appeared in the Killam Courthouse Tuesday, to face 17 charges including the attempted murder of two Killam/Forestburg RCMP officers, with additional weapons charges added including possession of restricted or prohibited loaded handguns, and possession of guns with removed serial numbers.

The charges stem from a Feb. 7 standoff with police at a rural residence between Lougheed and Sedgewick which left two Mounties with multiple gunshot wounds.

Robison’s lawyer Brian Beresh entered a plea of not-guilty to all charges, and elected a trial by judge and jury. Provincial Court Judge William Andreassen did not make a decision regarding bail, delaying the ruling to Apr. 11, in Camrose Court at 11:30 a.m.

Robison entered the courtroom wearing jeans and a light coloured buttoned shirt, with shoulder-length hair and a beard. He remained impassive throughout the process.

Robison’s parents, Carol Clarke and Ray Robison were also in the courtroom, along with friends, family, and neighbours, all of whom took up more than half of the available seating.

They remained reserved and calm during the lengthy court appearance.

After court adjourned, friends of the family were visibly disappointed, but also relieved that bail was not denied outright.

“We still have hope,” said Tammy Thompson, a family friend, who was also in the courtroom. “It’s not what we were hoping for, but it’s not what we feared either.”

The wounded RCMP officers from the Feb. 7 incident continue to recuperate from their injuries, which at the time were considered life-threatening. The incident also saw Bradford Clarke, Robison’s uncle, fatally wounded in an exchange of fire with officers.

Robison, fled the scene that afternoon, but was arrested in rural area 20 km southeast of Killam at about 5 a.m. on Feb. 10.