A Seattle judge ruled Thursday there is enough evidence to warrant sending an American who is an accused killer back to Edmonton to face a charge of first-degree murder.
After a court hearing that lasted only 10 minutes, U.S. federal Magistrate Judge Brian Tsuchida decided the evidence against 41-year-old Jason Steadman was strong enough for Tsuchida to sign an order certifying and committing Steadman for extradition.
Steadman is accused of killing Edmonton truck and limousine driver Dwayne Demkiw in May 2015. He’s also charged with arson after allegedly setting the victim’s car on fire.
Steadman, 41, walked into the Seattle courtroom flanked by two U.S. marshals. He did not make eye contact with anyone.
Canadian officials filed 110 pages of documents with the U.S. court outlining all the evidence that’s been gathered by Edmonton police in the case.
Accused’s lawyer didn’t argue against extradition
Steadman did not put up a fight.
“We’re not agreeing to anything, but we don’t have any further arguments,” Steadman’s lawyer Dennis Carroll told the judge.
“We’re not contesting anything about this — in other words, there won’t be a hearing.”
Steadman will be extradited after it’s approved by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry.
Steadman is an American citizen. Police believe he entered Canada illegally in 2012 after missing a probation appointment in the U.S.
Edmonton police say he borrowed the identity of another man and was living under the other man’s name when he met his Edmonton girlfriend. The girlfriend had previously been involved with Demkiw and was still on good terms with him. Police say this caused friction between the two men.
Police say that on May 31, 2015, Steadman attacked Demkiw with a machete after Demkiw had finished his weekend shift as a limousine driver at Revolution Entertainment.
Demkiw’s burned car was found in a Calgary parkade soon afterwards. His body was found near Innisfail, Alta. in April 2016.
Police say Steadman returned to the United States in the summer of 2015 on a Sea-Doo, departing from the Vancouver harbour and travelling to Bellingham, Wash.