U.S. judge orders extradition for accused killer of Edmonton limo driver
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 walked into the Seattle courtroom flanked by two U.S. marshals. He did not make eye contact with anyone. There was no one in court to support him other than his lawyer, Dennis Carroll.
Canadian officials filed 110 pages of documents with the U.S. court through a federal prosecutor outlining all the evidence that's been gathered by Edmonton police in the case. By the time the hearing began, Tsuchida had reviewed all the materials.
"The evidence that was submitted is sufficient to actually have this matter moved forward," Tsuchida said.
Accused's lawyer didn't argue against extradition
Steadman did not put up a fight. His lawyer told the judge he had discussed the case with his client and chose not to call any witnesses or offer any rebuttal evidence.
"We're not agreeing to anything, but we don't have any further arguments," federal public defender Dennis Carroll told the judge.
"We're not contesting anything about this — in other words, there won't be a hearing."
Tsuchida told Steadman he was not being asked to admit whether he's innocent or guilty.
"We're simply talking about the process to move a person from one country to another country," he explained. "Of course you're not admitting guilt of any kind, but you're not contesting information presented by the government."
Steadman has now been placed in the custody of the U.S. Marshals. He will be extradited to Canada once it's approved by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry.
Steadman accused of using false identity
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 used the identity of another man — Robert Aubrey-Maxwell — and was living under Aubrey-Maxwell'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 believe 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.
Victim's brother in court for hearing
Darren Demkiw said he flew from Alberta to Seattle for the hearing to represent his dead brother and the rest of the family.
"I felt it was important to be here, to have one family member here," he said.
Thursday morning was the first time he had ever seen Steadman.
"Of course it was hard to see him," he said.
Demkiw was relieved the next step in the extradition process has been taken. He said he looks forward to the trial.
"This will bring a sense of closure," he said. "The fact that we have a suspect and the remains of Dwayne and that the suspect will go to trial … everything is in order.
"It's a relief because it's a step in the right direction that justice will be served."
