GUILTY Canada - Vida Smith, 69, enroute Chestermere, Alta, to Calgary, 21 Jul 2020 *Arrest*

[ttcRider]

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calg...slaughter-firearms-charges-gambling-1.5709850

“Barton is now also charged with 27 firearms-related offences. The offence date listed on court documents is July 30, the day Barton was arrested.

Some of the charges involve allegations that five guns — two rifles and three handguns — were found in a Cadillac Escalade, the same vehicle police allege Barton travelled to Edmonton in the day after Smith was last seen.......

........Barton plays poker, baccarat and, most prominently, blackjack.

Members of Calgary's poker and blackjack communities who spend time in various city casinos confirm Barton was a regular who "kept to himself."

He is very smart and skilled, according to fellow casino regulars.

Barton and Smith were "renowned" for their card counting skills, said one casino employee.

They often worked as a team. One would count cards, signalling for the other to step in when the deck went hot.....”

That is fascinating. Wow.

 

[jash]

That is fascinating. Wow.

Agreed. I didn't see that twist coming.

That article says they have ties to casinos across Canada and in Las Vegas. I wonder when is the last time they "worked" together. Alberta shut down casinos on March 17, and only slots were allowed to resume June 12 (link: Facing $900M gaming revenue loss in 2020, Alberta reopens casino tables). Vegas casinos reopened June 4 including table games (link: Vegas, baby! Casinos reopen after long coronavirus closure). Did he owe Vida money from a recent job?

 

[kritafo]

I wonder if they online gambled as well

 

[kritafo]

Suspect in senior's killing to face preliminary hearing next summer | Calgary Herald

 

[dotr]

Suspect in senior's killing to face preliminary hearing next summer | Calgary Herald

Disturbing that Vida Smith is still missing.

 

[MimosaMornings]

From your link -
“Investigators believe Smith and Barton had an argument on July 21 between 1 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. inside a white SUV parked on the west side of the Sunridge ATB, and that this unidentified woman witnessed it.”
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"From what we observed on CCTV, we believe that this woman witnessed something that caught her attention as she was walking by a vehicle," said Acting Staff Sgt. Stuart Cole of the CPS homicide unit.

"We're very interested in speaking with her and are looking for the public's help to identify her."

The woman is not alleged to have had any other involvement in the case aside from being a witness, police said.....”

What was the weather that day? Vida was wearing a tank top and skirt and this witness looks very covered up from head to toe. That’s a large backpack too.

An argument over a private game perhaps?

 

[MistyWaters]

No details as to the identity of the body but I was reminded of Vita as her home was Chestermere iirc.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/chestermere-body-found-1.5876489
Woman's body found on rural road near Chestermere
“The body has been taken to the Calgary medical examiner's office, and an autopsy is scheduled for Monday.

Police said the identity of the person isn't known, but it's believed the victim is a Caucasian woman.”

 

[MistyWaters]

The finding of an identified body is being reported by all news outlets in the area now. I’m very hopeful it’s Veda so her family will have the opportunity to give her a proper burial. “Believed to be a woman” suggests it’s not obvious, perhaps due to length of time.

KB couldn’t have known Veda’s daytimer would’ve led LE almost immediately to the meeting with him so perhaps placing her body close to where she lived was intended to misdirect the investigation.....purely my speculation.


RCMP investigate after body found near Calgary
“RCMP said they were notified Friday of human remains located on a rural road. Police said the body was taken to the Medical Examiner’s Office in Calgary, where an autopsy will be conducted Monday.

The victim is believed to have been a woman, but her identity is not yet known, according to RCMP...”

 

[MistyWaters]

No, not Vida. Another woman, devastating to her family and friends I’m sure.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/chestermere-body-found-1.5879561

 

[Snoopster]

What was the weather that day? Vida was wearing a tank top and skirt and this witness looks very covered up from head to toe. That’s a large backpack too.

An argument over a private game perhaps?

The witness looks like she is Muslim. She seems to be dressed quite typically, with hair, arms and legs completely covered. I hope she steps forward even if she did or didn't see anything, just so LE can complete that aspect of their investigation. I'm sure it could be intimidating for her.

 

[JerseyGirl]

Postponed?? I haven’t seen any updates.

Judge grants bail to murder suspect charged in senior's killing | Calgary Herald

A two-week preliminary hearing is scheduled to begin June 21.

 

[ttcRider]

why does 'grants bail to murder suspect' make no sense to me? Why does that even happen.

 

[MistyWaters]

why does 'grants bail to murder suspect' make no sense to me? Why does that even happen.

I suppose we’re not supposed to question since the information is hidden behind a publication ban. But that’s an excellent question!

“At Wuttunee’s request there was a ban on publication placed on the submissions by counsel and Jones’ reasons for granting Barton his freedom.”

 

[lindamichelle1]

Trial of suspect in officer's death highlights 2022 court calendar | Calgary Herald


Here's a rundown of the most newsworthy Calgary court cases set for 2022

On Oct. 17, Calgarians will likely get some answers about the disappearance of Chestermere senior Vida Smith.

Chris James Lee, also known as Kevin Barton, will face a three-week jury trial for second-degree murder in the death of Smith, whose body has never been found.

Smith, 69, was last seen July 21, 2020, in northeast Calgary.

Lee was arrested nine days later.

 

[TootsieFootsie]

MSN

 

[ttcRider]

MSN

Well that was certainly an interesting read.

 

[jash]

MSN

I'm glad the Crown is not allowing him to plead down to manslaughter.

 

[kritafo]

I forot there was a thread for Vida - certainly was an interesting first day yesterday

 

[dotr]

Lengthy article, many details.​

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/chris-lee-kevin-barton-murder-trial-vida-smith-1.6619709

''Tran told jurors they will hear evidence that a week after she disappeared, Smith's blood was found in Lee's Cadillac Escalade along with her DNA on a set of handcuffs. Police also seized her purse, cellphone and five loaded firearms from the SUV.
Cleaning product residue and maggots were also discovered in the back storage area of the vehicle.''

''Jurors were told that Vida Smith's blood was found in Chris Lee's Cadillac on the day he was arrested. Her purse and phone were found there as well. (Calgary Police Service)
''At the time of her death, Smith was living in a small apartment in Montreal, gambling at Quebec casinos after being banned from Alberta establishments that had identified her as a card counter, Neda Power, the victim's daughter, testified Monday.''

''Power said the pair was "very successful," sometimes seeing payouts worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.
But over the years, mistrust crept in, according to Power, and the relationship between Lee and Smith became "complex."

"When you're dealing with that much money with each other, there may have been some disagreements. It was very up and down," said Power.

Smith lost trust in Lee, which Power said made her lose trust in him, too.''

''At the time of his arrest, police seized $44,000 in cash, five loaded handguns and rifles, 1,000 rounds of ammunition, knives, masks and cellphones.

Inside the vehicle, police also found Smith's purse, cellphone and wallet.

Smith's DNA was on a pair of handcuffs discovered in the Escalade.

A droplet of her blood was found in the rear cargo area of the SUV.''

 

[MistyWaters]

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/chris-lee-vida-smith-calgary-murder-trial-verdict-1.6633097

“A Calgary man has been found not guilty of second-degree murder but guilty of manslaughter for killing his friend and blackjack partner of 30 years during a fight over money.

Chris Lee, 63, a.k.a. Kevin Barton, admitted to fatally choking Vida Smith on July 21, 2020, while the two sat in his car.

Jurors had been deliberating since Thursday morning.

Lee and his lawyer Cory Wilson appeared to show relief as the jury foreperson read the verdict Friday night around 8 p.m.

Lee will be allowed to remain on bail ahead of a sentencing hearing set for next week……

…….Lee never denied killing Smith and offered to plead guilty to manslaughter on the first day of the trial — a move rejected by the prosecution.

On the day she was killed, Lee testified that Smith had offered to sell him her ex-husband's passport for $10,000.

But on the day they met, after grabbing a coffee together at a northeast Starbucks, the two counted Lee's cash and then Smith handed over a birth certificate instead of a passport, according to the Lee's testimony.

He said she then tried to get out of the car with his money.

Lee testified he had a "split-second reaction" and grabbed Smith to prevent her from leaving with his money.

The pair struggled, and Lee had his arm around Smith's neck. After 30 seconds, she went limp, he said…..”