Jason Klaus and Joshua Frank, the two men accused of murdering Gordon, Sandra and Monica Klaus, appeared in Red Deer Provincial Court on Monday, Oct. 6.
The two accused were scheduled to enter a plea as well as select the type of trial should they enter a plea of not guilty, but asked for more time before doing so.
Judge J. Glass presided over the brief appearance, where the two men, who have yet to name lawyer representation, asked for the extension.
This is not uncommon in criminal matters, as the accused will unlikely wish to enter a plea until they have secured a lawyer and had a chance to examine the information disclosed by the Crown.
Klaus and Frank are next scheduled to appear in Red Deer Provincial Court at 9:30 a.m. on Nov. 3, again to enter a plea and elect the trial format.
In early Dec. 2013, firefighters responded to a house fire outside of the small community of Castor, east of Stettler. The bodies of Gordon and Monica were found in the rubble of the building, and while Sandra’s body has never been found, it is believed the fire cremated her remains.
The family dog was found shot outside the home.
After nine months of investigation, the surviving member of the Klaus family was arrested at his deceased sister’s property in Stettler, while Frank was arrested at his brother’s property near Castor.
None of the accusations have been proven in court.