More could have been done to prevent slaying: husband
Last Updated: Monday, April 9, 2007 | 1:12 PM MT
CBC News
An Edmonton man says the man charged with murdering his wife had been harassing the couple last week.
Stephanie Rae Butler, 25, was found dead in her southeast Edmonton home Saturday.
Michael Butler, her husband, said more could have been done to prevent the slaying.
"Our families should not be going through this right now," he told reporters.
A man who police say is a relative is facing murder charges.
The same man also faces charges for severely beating a cab driver Friday. The Butler home is just doors down from where the taxi driver was assaulted.
"The suspect allegedly assaulted the cab driver, then made his way to a relative's house where he forcibly entered the house," Edmonton police spokeswoman Karen Carlson said. "It's alleged that he assaulted and ultimately killed the 25-year-old female."
Butler was away from the house when his wife's body was found by her parents.
Released on bail
"Steph hadn't answered my phone call, so I called her dad. He found her the way she was," Butler said.
Butler said the accused was arrested last Wednesday night and then released after he came to the Butler residence and harassed the couple.
The accused was released on $300 bail and told not to go back to the Butler house.
According to Butler, the accused should not have been out of custody.
Now, he's calling his MP and the police chief because he thinks something is wrong with the justice system.
"I don't want this to happen to anyone else, the community should not go through this," he said.
More details, including the name of the accused, are expected be released over the next few days.
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