Jessey James Pearson, 37, faces a charge of first-degree murder in the gun-for-hire killing of city resident Ronnie Olara Obina
Calgary murder suspect Jessey James Pearson remains on the lam more than three weeks after the Alberta Court of Appeal ordered him to surrender after overturning his acquittal.
A Calgary police spokesperson confirmed Thursday that Pearson remains at warrant status while investigators continue to try to locate him.
The province’s top court ruled on July 8, that Justice Jim Eamon erred when he ruled Pearson’s confession in a Mr. Big undercover operation was inadmissible.
The appeal judges ordered Pearson to turn himself in to the Calgary Remand Centre pending any application for bail in advance of his retrial.
Because of Eamon’s decision to keep Pearson’s statement out of evidence at his initial trial, then-Crown prosecutor Doug Taylor invited the Court of King’s Bench judge to acquit Pearson on the murder charge prior proceeding to the trial of his co-accused, Jayme Scott Denovan.
Denovan admitted ambushing Obina and shooting him in the head after he was offered $14,000 and paid $4,000 by two unknown men to kill the victim.
During the operation targeting Denovan he told undercover officers that Pearson assisted him in the killing, driving him to the scene in a stolen Jeep Pearson later doused in gasoline and set on fire.
While that statement wasn’t admissible against Pearson, the undercover officers asked Denovan to arrange for a meeting with Pearson who was eventually brought to Regina where both men detailed their involvement in the killing, the appeal court noted.
Police describe Pearson as 5-ft.-11 and 181 lb. with a medium build, green eyes and light brown hair. Anyone with information is asked to call police at 403-266-1234, or submit tips anonymously through Crime Stoppers.
Pearson is scheduled to appear in Calgary Court of King’s Bench on Friday to schedule his new trial date.
Defence lawyer Greg Dunn, who represented him at his first trial and during his appeal, declined to comment ahead of the scheduled appearance.