Crown plans to downgrade murder charge for suspect in Alberta roadside shooting

The Crown will be downgrading the murder charge for one of two men arrested after a deadly roadside shooting near Calgary in August.

Arthur Wayne Penner, 35, was originally charged with first-degree murder and attempted murder.

But the prosecution has indicated in court that Penner will now be facing trial on second-degree murder instead.

The second suspect, Elijah Blake Strawberry, 28, was arrested at a residence in O'Chiese First Nation last month and charged with second-degree murder and attempted murder.

The arrestsfollowed a manhunt that began Aug. 6 after the fatal shooting of Colin Hough and the wounding of another man who were working along a rural roadin Rocky View County, east of Calgary, when a county truck was stolen from the scene.

The two men, who will be tried together, will be back in court Oct. 17.