Colton Robert Lischka and Ashtin Ritzand are committed to stand trial on charges of second-degree murder in the death of James “Ed” Swift.
Author of the article:
Bre McAdam • Saskatoon StarPhoenix
Published Feb 22, 2024 • Last updated 8 hours ago • 2 minute read
A pair of men accused in the death of James “Ed” Swift in the RM of Corman Park have been committed to stand trial on charges of second-degree murder, attempted murder and robbery.
Judge Bruce Bauer made the decision on Thursday after a preliminary hearing was held this week in Saskatoon provincial court for Colton Robert Lischka and Ashtin Ritzand.
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The case will now be scheduled for trial at Saskatoon Court of King’s Bench. A pretrial date has been set for March 15, Crown prosecutor Paul Scott confirmed.
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Lischka, Ritzand and a third accused, Anthony Burley, were arrested and charged on Aug. 29, 2022 after Swift, 40, was found injured at the intersection of Penner Road and Rural Road 3050, between Saskatoon and Warman.
Swift died at the scene. A woman who was with him survived, but was seriously injured.
According to court documents, Lischka is accused of stabbing the woman and using violence to steal her cellphone. He was released on a $25,000 surety — a payment made by someone as a promise to ensure an accused person follows their release conditions — in November 2022.
Burley was also released from custody in January 2023. He is charged with being an accessory after the fact to murder and flight from police.
He has not had a preliminary hearing. His next court date is scheduled for May.
Preliminary hearings are held at the provincial court level to determine if there is sufficient evidence to proceed to trial at Court of King’s Bench for indictable — or more serious — offences.
The evidence heard this week is not reportable due to a standard, court-ordered publication ban to ensure trial fairness.
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At the time of the arrests, police said Swift and the woman were in a white Honda Civic with three men when an altercation occurred on a rural road around 6 a.m. The vehicle took off, leaving the injured victims behind.
Burley and Lischka were found at a home on Marlatte Street after RCMP tried to pull over a white Honda Civic they were driving in Saskatoon’s Evergreen neighbourhood.
Ritzand turned himself in the next day.
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