The Calgary Courts Centre is preparing for a year dominated by high-profile and unusual criminal trials in 2026. The docket includes cases of alleged murder, a deadly road rage confrontation, and one of the city's strangest break-and-enter accusations involving a tunnel dug between condominium units.
Alleged Good Samaritan Killing and a Deadly Road Rage Incident
Arthur Wayne Penner and Elijah Blake Strawberry are scheduled for a jury trial in May 2026. They face charges including murder in connection with the fatal shooting of a Rocky View County employee. The victim is believed to have been a Good Samaritan who stopped to offer assistance. The pair also face an attempted murder charge related to a second man.
In a separate case expected to draw significant public attention, Steven Allen will stand trial in September 2026. He is charged with manslaughter for an incident on December 12, 2023, that police have described as a road rage encounter turned deadly. The altercation resulted in the death of another motorist, David Berglund.
According to Calgary Police, the events began with a non-injury hit-and-run collision. A passenger in a red 2004 Chevrolet Aveo called 911 to report an "ongoing road rage incident" in northeast Calgary. Police allege a 2002 GMC Sierra was driving erratically and that its driver flashed a knife at the occupants of the Aveo before the situation escalated fatally.
The Bizarre Case of the Condo Tunnel
Perhaps the most unusual case set for trial is that of Ben Edward Maize. His trial is scheduled for January 2026 in Calgary Court of Justice on charges of break and enter and disobeying a court order.
The charges stem from a police investigation launched on September 5, 2025, after a report of a break-in at a residence in the 6400 block of Coach Hill Road S.W. The female victim told police she had experienced ongoing issues with a downstairs neighbour, which had recently intensified.
Upon returning home, she found her apartment in significant disarray and, despite her door being locked, discovered a large hole in the floor. Police allege that Maize, her downstairs neighbour, entered her unit through a crawl space accessed behind his own fireplace.
A Packed Docket for the Coming Year
These cases represent just a sample of the serious and high-profile matters that will move through the Calgary justice system in 2026. The combination of violent crimes and peculiar allegations ensures that the courts will be a focal point for public and media attention throughout the year. The outcomes of these trials will have lasting implications for the victims' families and the accused.
The scheduling of these jury trials underscores the significant backlog and preparation time required for complex cases in Alberta's judicial system. Citizens of Calgary can expect detailed reporting and considerable legal argument as these stories unfold in courtrooms over the next twelve months.
