EDMONTON — A judge has denied bail to a man accused of killing two Metis hunters northeast of Edmonton.

Jacob Sansom, 39, and Maurice Cardinal, 57, were shot and killed on a rural road near Glendon, Alta., in March.

Anthony Bilodeau, 31, and Roger Bilodeau, 56, both face two counts of second-degree murder.

The younger Bilodeau was denied bail in an Edmonton courtroom on Tuesday.

Members of the Metis Nation of Alberta rallied outside the courthouse prior to the bail hearing, with many holding signs saying “No Justice No Peace” and “Their Lives Matter” with pictures of Sansom and Cardinal.

A statement from the group says both victims were citizens of the Metis Nation.

Family and friends have said the two were hunting to feed their families when they were killed.

RCMP have said a verbal confrontation escalated into a fight between the occupants of two vehicles parked on the road northeast of Edmonton when Sansom and Cardinal were shot.

“Our communities must feel safe as we work to uphold our traditional ways of life, including harvesting,” said a statement Tuesday from the Metis Nation of Alberta.

“The MNA maintains a strong stand against violence and racism in all its ugly forms.”

Sansom’s wife, Sarah Sansom, said in an interview last month that she wasn’t sure if racism played a role in the deaths, adding she couldn’t understand why it happened.

Outside court Tuesday, she said she hasn’t slept in two-and-a-half months but may be able to now.

“I can sleep tonight,” she said of the bail decision.

“My kids don’t have to be afraid. I don’t have to be afraid.” (CTV and The Canadian Press)

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 16, 2020.

The Canadian Press

A man taken into custody for a deadly hit-and-run posted bail in Rockingham County Thursday. Joseph Lee Fluellen, 27, was charged with felony hit-and-run, posted $10,000 bail and was released, according to deputies. His next court date is Tuesday.Click the video player above for headlines from WXII 12 News.Eden police officers responded to the area of Hundley Street and Maryland Avenue at about 4 p.m. Sunday in reference to a bicyclist struck by a vehicle.When police arrived, they found Michael Workman, of Eden, lying in the road. He was pronounced dead at the scene.Fluellen left the area and headed east on Maryland Avenue, according to officers. Investigators identified Fluellen as the primary suspect.

A shop owner accused of being a key player in an illegal baby formula racket after falling on hard times has burst into tears as she is granted bail after spending a night in the police cells. 

Tram Huynh Bao Phan, 41, was arrested by police at her south-west Sydney shopfront on Tuesday morning after police were tipped off by suspicious local business people.

Phan is accused of on-selling tins of formula at her Bankstown shopfront that a drug addict had allegedly stolen from a Coles supermarket.

The alleged thief Curistos Filippopoulos, 45, took up to $965 a day in baby formula from the franchise’s Clemton Park store, court documents said.

At one point he allegedly stole tins from the shop five days in a row. 

The pair are accused of having an arrangement where the formula was delivered to Phan in shopping bags who then on-sold them to customers. 

Phan was visibly emotional as she was released on bail from the Sydney Police Centre on Wednesday evening and wept as she was reunited with her sister, who posted her $5,000 bail. 

When Daily Mail Australia approached her for a comment, the clearly distraught accused woman could only muster: ‘No, no, no, that’s all fine, thank you’.  

During her bail application, Magistrate George Breton was told Phan had previously run a Vietnamese cake store prior to starting up a shop based around baby formula.

Her business had apparently suffered ‘financial difficulties’ prior to the coronavirus crisis, the court was told.

Magistrate Breton said Phan had made ‘full admissions’ that she had ‘continued to participate in the syndicate’ because of it. 

Phan was charged with knowingly receiving stolen goods and six counts of recklessly dealing with proceeds of crime on Tuesday evening.

Phan’s solicitor, Mai Pham, told the court police had told her client had been ‘very compliant and cooperative’ in their investigations.

‘She is previously married and now separated, so a single mother, with three children, 12, nine and two,’ the solicitor said. 

‘She previously operated a business making cake and selling cake. She’s recently changed to this particular business.’ 

Filippopoulos was charged with 45 offences, including 35 counts of shoplifting, six counts of disposing of stolen property and driving while disqualified. 

When Filippopoulos’ lawyer, Veronica Love, applied for him to get bail, Magistrate George Breton marvelled at how the accused pair believed they could get away with the alleged scam. 

‘It’s a wonder they weren’t stopped in their tracks a long time before today or yesterday,’ Magistrate Breton said during his matter. 

‘They continued to act, naively, probably believing they were never going to be caught.’ 

He described the offence as ‘unsophisticated’ – involving Filippopoulos ‘loading up and walking out’ of Coles. 

He said based on the police facts ‘jail is an appropriate penalty’ for such serious offences.

‘She’s determined of her own volition to engage in the criminal syndicate,’ he said. 

Phan was granted $5,000 bail on conditions including she report to police weekly and surrender her passport.

The court heard Filippopoulos was a drug addict who was enrolled in a methadone program.

He sought bail but it was opposed by police prosecutor Jason Burt and he was remanded in custody.  

Both matters will return to court later this year. 

Police expect to make further arrests, with the court hearing two others were allegedly involved. 

Local traffic police have commented on reports that a prominent soccer player was arrested on charges of reckless driving and breaking lockdown regulations.

On Sunday, Gauteng traffic tweeted that a 32-year-old prominent player was arrested on the N1 in Johannesburg Sunday morning, after clocking a speed of 213/kmh in a 120 zone.

It has been widely reported in local media that the player in question is SuperSport United striker Thamsanqa Gabuza.

The former Orlando Pirates striker as well as his passengers, who are believed to be in the entertainment industry, were detained at the Sandton Police station where they spent the night.

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Gabuza along with his passengers were released on bail being charged with breaking lockdown regulations with reckless and negligent driving.

Chief provincial inspector Obed Sibasa who is the spokesperson for Gauteng Traffic Police confirmed to the Siya crew that an arrest was made.

“On behalf of the Gauteng Traffic Police Community Safety, one can confirm that our high speed unit arrested a prominent soccer player on the N1 in Sandton on Sunday May 24 at about 7am.

“The player was charged with negligent and reckless driving alternative for exceeding the prescribed speed limit. He was released on R1000 bail at Police station B,” Sibasa said

He would not confirm or deny if Gabuza was the player in question.

“In terms of the department’s communication protocols one cannot divulge anyone’s name before appearing in court and not at liberty to disclose the name of any suspect up until he/ she appears in court, but we can confirm a prominent soccer player was arrested by our high speed unit,” Sibasa added.

The player will appear for the first time in the Randburg Magistrate’s court in July 2020, Sibasa told the Siya crew.

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The “prominent soccer player” arrested for allegedly travelling at 213km/h at the weekend on the N1 in Johannesburg has been released on police bail of R1,000.

Gauteng traffic police spokesperson Obed Sibasa said the 32-year-old man was caught on the highway in the Sandton area on Sunday, driving an Audi A6 TDI. He told officers he was rushing home to fetch a friend.

“He was charged with reckless and negligent driving. The alternative charge is driving at excessive speed for the prescribed legal speed limit. He was detained at the Sandton police station,” said Sibasa.

Sibasa said the soccer player was released on bail of R1,000 on Monday.

“His first court appearance is on July 29 at the Randburg magistrate’s court.”

The man’s name cannot be released until he has appeared in court.

A DUBLIN gaelic footballer accused of assaulting a player during a match has been remanded on continuing bail.

ormac Costello (25), who was a spectator at a game when he allegedly struck the player, had the case against him adjourned in his absence at Dublin District Court.

Mr Costello, a key member of the county’s five-in-a-row winning team, was excused from attending court today amid ongoing restrictions due to the Covid-19 crisis.

The accused, with an address at Lorcan Crescent in Santry, is charged with assault causing harm to Aodan Fee at Naomh Mearnog GAA in Portmarnock on July 6 last year.

This afternoon, a garda sergeant handed evidence of Mr Costello’s arrest charge and caution in to court by certificate. She said she had served the accused’s solicitor with a written outline of the prosecution’s evidence.

The sergeant said the DPP had directed summary disposal of the case at district court level, subject to a judge considering the issue of jurisdiction. She said she was making enquiries to see if there was a medical report available.

Judge John Cheatle asked why the case was listed for Dublin District Court instead of Swords and Mr Robert Purcell said the alleged incident took place in Portmarnock but the accused had been charged in a city station.

Judge Cheatle adjourned the case to Swords District Court in September 14, for mention only, noting that the issue of jurisdiction was outstanding and a medical report awaited. Mr Costello was excused from attending.

Mr Purcell asked the judge to make a full disclosure order, to include video footage and statements.

The charge against Mr Costello is contrary to Section 3 of the Non Fatal Offences Against the Person Act and carries a maximum sentence of five years imprisonment on conviction on indictment.

The accused, who is the son of the county board’s CEO John Costello, was granted bail at Coolock Garda Station after he was charged there earlier this month.

He met gardai by appointment as part of the investigation into the alleged one-punch assault during the club match last July.

It is understood Mr Costello was in the crowd and not involved on the pitch during the Division 2 AFL game between his club Whitehall Colmcille and hosts Naomh Mearnog.

The game, a Saturday evening fixture on July 6, was being played in Portmarnock.

During the second-half an altercation occurred and a Naomh Mearnog player was allegedly punched once in the face.

The alleged victim suffered a cut lip and was bleeding.

He was treated for his injuries and a complaint was later made to gardai who launched an investigation into the incident.

It’s understood that as part of the inquiry gardai have also reviewed camera footage of the game.

Cormac Costello has won five All-Ireland Senior Football Championships with Dublin as well as seven Leinster titles and five National Football Leagues.

He was also a member of the All-Ireland winning U-21 team in 2014.

In his second senior football championship final he came off the bench against Mayo, scoring three points and playing a central role as Dublin claimed the Sam Maguire in the 2016 replay.

Online Editors

Former AFL player and coach Dean Laidley is set to apply for bail after leaked photos of him emerged from inside a Melbourne police station.

The inaugural West Coast Eagle is charged with offences including stalking after his arrest outside a St Kilda home on Saturday night.

Two senior constables have been suspended over the leaked pictures of the 53-year-old wearing a dress and wig inside a police station interview room.

Deputy Police Commissioner Shane Patton labelled the leak “appalling”, after the pictures appeared on social media.

The suspended officers were expected to be charged with accessing police information without authorisation.

Laidley was remanded in custody after appearing in Melbourne Magistrates Court on Sunday, and is expected to ask for bail during a second appearance on Monday.

Australian Lawyers for Human Rights condemned the behaviour of the officers who distributed the photos of Laidley in custody.

“The act of a police officer secretly taking a photograph of an accused person while the person is in custody is extremely dangerous,” the group’s president, Kerry Weste, said.