An Okotoks-area man who had all of his charges dropped in a shooting incident while defending his home from a prowler, is being sued by the individual who rummaged through his car.
Edouard Maurice, 34, was served at his home earlier this month, informing him he was being sued by Ryan Randy Watson for $100,000 for damages. Watson is the individual who was shot in the wrist area while prowling on the Maurices’ property on Feb. 24, 2018.
“It was a total shock,” Maurice said, about getting greeted with papers at his home last week.
It’s another chapter in what has become a long ordeal.
“We’re upset obviously,” said Jessica Maurice, Edouard’s wife. “After everything we have been through, it’s unfair that we have to go through something like this still.
“We are definitely going to fight it.”
Watson and a co-accused drove onto the Maurice residence south of Okotoks at around 5:40 a.m. on Feb. 24, 2018. They rummaged through the Maurices’ vehicles.
Edouard, who was home with his one-year-old daughter, fired a warning shot into the ground, which ricocheted and struck Watson in the wrist.
Maurice was later charged with gun offences and all charges were dropped on June 22, 2018 at Okotoks provincial court. His court appearances drew hundreds of people who supported Maurice’s right to defend his home. The Maurices’ story became a rallying cry across the nation concerning rural crime.
Watson later pled guilty to mischief and failure to comply with a court order at Okotoks provincial court on Feb. 28, 2019. He was sentenced to 45 days in custody, but was released after receiving credit for time served.
The recent lawsuit initially included the provincial government suing due to such things as health costs to Watson.
That portion was squashed shortly after Highwood MLA RJ Sigurdson contacted Justice Minister Doug Schweitzer.
“I was incredibly taken aback, shocked, angered and a high level of frustration,” Sigurdson said about receiving news of the lawsuit. “Watching what they (the Maurices) went through on the criminal side of the investigation, their family was exposed to a lot.
“To find out about this, it feels like their family has been re-victimized… This is a complete abuse of the justice system.”
