A Calgary man who discovered his roommate dead has found himself locked up despite expressing complete willingness to testify in a high-profile murder trial — a development that highlights the sometimes harsh reality of witness enforcement in Alberta's justice system.
Alec McLennan appeared before Justice David Labrenz on Tuesday, telling the court he was ready and able to show up and give evidence in the trial of murder suspect Gerald Russell Frommelt. Yet despite his cooperation, McLennan remained in custody, awaiting a lawyer to help argue for his release.
The situation unfolded after Crown prosecutor James Thomas requested McLennan's arrest when he failed to respond to a subpoena to appear at Frommelt's trial, which began Monday. But McLennan's defence presents a credibility problem for the Crown: he says he never received the court summons in the first place.
"I have no hesitance to testify," McLennan told the justice, according to court records from the proceedings.
The case centres on a homicide in northeast Calgary's Temple community on April 7, 2022, when McLennan discovered his roommate with a fatal bullet wound and immediately called 911. His account of that discovery and what he witnessed could prove pivotal to prosecutors building their case against Frommelt.
The detention of a cooperative witness on a technical breach — particularly one who initiated the emergency response that brought authorities into the case — raises questions about the balance between court enforcement and common sense in witness management.
McLennan told Justice Labrenz he needed time to retain counsel to argue his release conditions. With no legal representation immediately available, he was held for at least seven days while the legal process continued.
The case underscores ongoing challenges within Alberta's justice system regarding witness notification and enforcement, issues that occasionally spark debate among legal professionals and community members on platforms like Calgary Forums, where residents discuss local court developments.
This article is based on reporting from the Calgary Herald covering court proceedings October 19-23, 2026.