ESTEVAN — The preliminary hearing has been provisionally set for one of the two people charged in connection with an Oxbow woman's death last year.
Tyler Neil Shaw's matters were back in Estevan Provincial Court on July 7. Jessica Bihun, acting on behalf of Shaw's attorney Darren Kraushaar, said preliminary hearing dates have been tentatively reserved, and Shaw has pleaded not guilty to a charge of accessory to murder after the fact in the April 2024 death of Briana Hayes.
Shaw has elected for a Court of King's Bench judge and jury trial.
Provincial Court Judge Marylynne Beaton noted Shaw's charge is one she doesn't see very often.
Shaw's matter was adjourned to July 21 in Estevan Provincial to finalize the date for the hearing, which is slated for Jan. 28-30, 2026. He is also charged with impaired driving and breaching the conditions of his release order. Those charges will also be discussed July 21.
The co-accused in the Oxbow homicide, Taylor Morgan Japp, is charged with second-degree murder and had a preliminary hearing in Carlyle last month. His matters are now before the Court of King's Bench.
Background: On April 24, 2024, the Carlyle RCMP received a report of a possible homicide. The Saskatchewan RCMP Major Crimes Unit took control of the investigation. Hayes' body was found April 25 in a rural location in the RM of Moose Mountain.
Shaw was out on conditions in connection with Hayes' death when he was arrested in late March 2025 for driving while over .08 and impaired driving. He was also charged with multiple counts of violating the conditions of his release order.
Shaw had a show-cause hearing April 23 in Regina Provincial Court. Bail was approved and he was released from custody with conditions.
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Mason Wayne Strutt's matters were discussed in southeast Saskatchewan courts during the week.
The first was July 7 in Estevan Provincial Court, when he had a first appearance for a charge of breaching his release conditions. The matter was adjourned to Aug. 11. His lawyer, Kathryn Gilliss, said she has received disclosure on the file. The nature of the breach was not immediately released.
Meanwhile, his case was also in court the following day in Weyburn on a charge of having a blood alcohol concentration of at least .08 within two hours of ceasing to operate a conveyance.
Gilliss said disclosure is complete and the matter is set for plea. Strutt's matter will be back in court Aug. 12.
Strutt also has matters in Moose Jaw and Regina. His most recent appearance in Moose Jaw was July 2 on a sexual assault charge. It was adjourned to July 29.
His charges in Regina include uttering threats, assault, animal cruelty and causing a person to take a noxious substance. His previous appearance in Regina was June 26, and he'll be back in court on those charges July 17.
Background: Strutt was apprehended and charged by members of the Regina Police Service on April 10. He was held in custody until April 17, when he was released with conditions.
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Meanwhile, Bihun said there has been discussion on a resolution and pleas are scheduled to be entered on Aug. 18 in the matter of Estevan Police Service Const. Vaughn Golden.
He is charged with assault, uttering threats, mischief under $5,000 and violating his release conditions.
Background: The provincial Serious Incident Response Team (SIRT) announced in late 2024 it had laid charges against a member of the EPS, after the municipal policing agency notified SIRT of an allegation of interpersonal violence involving the member. Golden was arrested by SIRT investigators.
He was released with several conditions, including a no-contact order, and placed on non-uniform, administrative duties by the EPS.
On Dec. 22, the EPS notified SIRT that Golden was believed to have had contact with one of the individuals despite the release order. Following a review of the evidence gathered by both the EPS and SIRT, it was determined that reasonable grounds existed to believe Golden had committed a Criminal Code offence.
His case has been before the courts several times this year.
Golden has been relieved of his duties and is on paid leave under the Police Act.
Charges in these matters have not been proven in court.
SaskToday will continue to have updates on these stories.
