Paul Bickford
Northern News Services
Published Thursday, July 3, 2008

Hay River The accused killer of a Hay River RCMP constable has been committed to stand trial on a charge of first-degree murder. Emrah Bulatci was sent to trial following the conclusion of a preliminary inquiry in Hay River on June 30.

Emrah Bulatci has committed to stand trial for the shooting death of a Hay River RCMP constable in October.

Territorial Court Judge Bernadette Schmaltz determined there was sufficient evidence presented at the preliminary inquiry to send the 23-year-old Alberta man to trial.

A publication ban was imposed on testimony presented during the inquiry, which was held from June 16 to 20 and on June 30.

It heard from 21 witnesses for the Crown and three for the defence.

Bulatci is charged with first-degree murder in connection with the Oct. 6, 2007, shooting death of Const. Christopher Worden.

“We are pleased with Judge Schmaltz’s review and assessment of the evidence heard and with her decision to commit the accused to stand trial,” said Worden’s widow, Jodie, and other members of the Worden family in a brief written statement.

“We will continue to face these legal proceedings as a family to support each other and Chris.”

Following the preliminary inquiry, Jodie Worden left Hay River for Ontario.

Neither the Crown nor the defence had much to say following the preliminary inquiry.

“This was the first step in the proceedings and now we’re moving towards a trial,” said John Cliffe, a Crown attorney from Vancouver.

Laura Stevens, a defence attorney from Edmonton, had no comment.

However, Stevens expressed gratitude for the professionalism and courtesy shown to the defence team by Hay River court workers, the RCMP and court sheriffs.

The preliminary inquiry was held under tight security at the Hay River Courthouse.

Anyone entering the courtroom passed through a metal detector and had their belongings searched. There was also a heavy police presence.

Sitting in a protective glass enclosure, Bulatci was silent throughout the preliminary inquiry, although he appeared to intensely listen to all the testimony.

No date or location has yet been set for a trial.

That will be determined at a Supreme Court of the NWT hearing in Yellowknife on Sept. 19.

“It’s something for a Supreme Court judge to decide,” Cliffe said.

Bulatci will also appear in Yellowknife Territorial Court from Sept. 24 to 26 for a preliminary inquiry on three counts of obstructing justice.

The charges were laid in February.

An RCMP news release at the time stated Bulatci is accused of using “associates” to allegedly tamper with potential witnesses for his murder trial.

The tampering is alleged to have occurred after Bulatci’s arrest in Edmonton on Oct. 13 up to Dec.6.