WESTLOCK – After a series of delays, 25-year-old Erin Noella Schembri of Edmonton finally appeared in Westlock Court of Justice on March 12 via CCTV from jail.
Schembri’s court appearances had been postponed multiple times since January because she was at first “lost” in the justice system, and then she was involved in an incident with a dog at the remand centre.
When Justice Carre-Ann Downey finally saw her on the CCTV screen from jail, she said, “Ms. Schembri, there we are, hi."
Schembri didn’t appear in court on Jan. 25 and defence lawyer Richard Forbes told the court that she had been arrested by Edmonton police but she couldn’t be located in either Edmonton police cells or the woman’s remand centre. Schembri’s appearance was rescheduled for March 5, but another incident delayed her court appearance that day too. On the morning of her scheduled appearance, court heard Schembri was involved in an incident with a dog while at the Fort Saskatchewan Correctional Centre and now required medical attention, forcing another postponement of her appearance.
When Schembri appeared in court, she was dressed in an oversized yellow jail-issued sweatshirt and matching pants. During her approximately 15-minute appearance, she pleaded guilty to several charges while exhibiting unusual behaviour. Schembri was seen dancing, rocking back and forth, shaking her shoulders, and making small jumping movements. She also made various facial expressions, including puffing out her cheeks, pulling the sides of her face with her hands, and grimacing.
Crown prosecutor Eric Mosley said that on July 30, 2024, Westlock RCMP officers arrested Schembri after they got a report of a vehicle in the ditch near Neerlandia. The vehicle had been reported stolen out of Edmonton and contained several stolen items. Schembri was sitting in the driver’s seat when police arrived on scene.
Court heard that the day before, on July 29, 2024, a vehicle was stolen while the complainant had gone for a swim at the Commonwealth Community Recreation Centre in Edmonton. The complainant had put her belongings in the locker and when she returned they were gone. When she went outside, her car was gone. Inside the vehicle, the woman had $3,000 in cash, her wallet containing $500 cash, approximately $1,000 in jewellery and a laptop.
When Westlock RCMP arrested Schembri they found the woman’s stolen purse and wallet in the trunk of the car. A baggy of illicit mushrooms, some marijuana and pills were seized.
At the time, Schembri was on probation. Court also heard that she has a prior conviction for assault of a police officer, as well as several convictions for possession of stolen property.
Schembri pleaded guilty to possession of stolen property valued over $5,000, mischief (damage to the vehicle), failing to comply with a probation order, and failing to attend court.
The Crown asked for a global sentence of 120 days in jail, whereas defence argued for 60 days.
Forbes told the court that Schembri is a young Indigenous woman with mental health issues and has been in the health care pod at the remand centre under increased scrutiny. She grew up in Edmonton not knowing her parents, doesn’t know her language and is trying to get treaty status.
Justice Downey sentenced Schembri to a global sentence of 80 days in jail. With enhanced credit for time served while on remand, she had 26 days left to serve. She still, however, has charges in Edmonton, including theft over $5,000.
