derek fildebrandt says he was just doing his 'grampa simpson' by waving cane at teens
three of the four teenagers testified that the former mla threatened to shoot them
sep 12 2024
2 minute read
independent mla, derek fildebrandt, photographed on july 20, 2018, in calgary.
postmedia file photo
former mla derek fildebrandt denied thursday he threatened to shoot a group of teenagers who had gathered outside his home, adding he was just channelling “grampa simpson” when he told police he’d waved his cane at them.
fildebrandt, who faces four charges of uttering threats on april 13, 2023, said he believed the boys had vandalized lawn ornaments and signs he posted asking people to stop their dogs from doing their business on his lawn.
and he told defence lawyer alain hepner he only tried to stop the teens to hold them responsible for their conduct when they attempted to flee the area.
“i yelled to them to stop, come back or i will call the police,” fildebrandt said, contradicting evidence wednesday from three of the four teenagers who testified for the crown and said he threatened to shoot them.
“i was upset and that is what i said.”
the former wildrose and united conservative party mla said he had just returned home from a business trip when he saw a group of teens on the sidewalk outside his crestmont residence.
“it’s very rare for anyone to stand in front of our house,” fildebrandt said.
“they appeared to be there suspiciously.”
he said his lawn signs and ornaments had been damaged or stolen in the past and he feared that’s what the group of boys was up to, so he made sure they could see he was watching them from inside his home.
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“they continued to stay there after that,” the accused said.
“this went on for at least 10 minutes … i was extremely suspicious.”
according to the teens, they were heading to a nearby convenience store to pick up some snacks and were waiting there for a female friend to come join them.
fildebrandt, 38, who at the time was walking with a cane due to a serious leg injury from a motorcycle crash, said he went outside to confront them and after the teens fled he found one sign vandalized and others missing.
“it was my belief at the time, rightly or wrongly, that they were responsible,” he told hepner.
fildebrandt decided to chase after the group in his pickup, feeling he would need to be able to identify them or provide an address for police to investigate.
under cross-examination, crown prosecutor stephanie morton challenged fildebrandt’s denial he made reference to having a gun, noting a neighbour — whose home one of the boys ran to — confronted him about having a weapon.
morton noted fildebrandt never mentioned his conversation with vanessa lunse in his statements to police.
“that was the most confusing and chaotic part (of the incident),” he explained.
“that was the first time somebody accused you of having a gun, correct?” morton asked.
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“that was her testimony,” fildebrandt said.
and he admitted telling police he waved his cane at the boys and told them to get off his lawn.
“i was trying to be a little funny with the cops, i was trying to do my grampa simpson.”
justice allan fradsham will hear final submissions from morton and hepner next week.
x: @kmartincourts
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