UPDATE Oct 10/17 - A judge has granted a defence request for a delay in the trial.

Jason Klaus and his friend Joshua Frank were charged in August 2014 with first-degree murder and arson in the deaths of Klaus's parents and sister in the small community of Castor.

The trial was to start today in Red Deer, but the defence argued the Crown had missed a deadline in notifying court that it intends to call evidence from a Mr. Big sting.

Justice Eric Macklin granted a delay of two weeks so the defence has time to properly prepare.


Nearly 4 years after an east central Alberta family was murdered, a 6 week trial opens today in Red Deer for two men facing first degree murder and arson charges.

It was in December of 2013 that the remains of 61 year old Gordon Klaus and his daughter 40 year old Monica were found in the rubble of a burned out farm house near Castor.

The body of 62 year old Sandra Klaus was never found but police believe her body was consumed in the blaze.

8 months later, her son 41 year old Jason Klaus was arrested for the deaths, alongside a friend of his Joshua Frank who is facing the same charges, plus an animal cruelty charge in relation to the shooting death of the family dog.

The arrests came after an RCMP dive team found a key piece of evidence at Big Knife Provincial Park.

An application regarding a delay in proceedings in the case, known as the Jordan decision, was filed in August of this year, but was denied.

The trial is scheduled to run through November 24th.