In a disturbing courtroom revelation, a Calgary man awaiting trial for murder has admitted to stabbing a corrections officer with a homemade weapon while incarcerated at the Calgary Remand Centre. Robert Joseph Matthews pleaded guilty to assaulting a peace officer with a weapon during a violent altercation that occurred on February 19, 2025.
Violent Altercation in Remand Centre
According to a statement of agreed facts presented by Crown prosecutor Don Couturier, the incident began when Matthews was entertaining other inmates in his cell and refused orders to have them leave and close his cell door shortly after 9 p.m. When officers directed the inmates to depart, Matthews reportedly told them to "(expletive) off" and physically challenged the responding personnel.
"Mr. Matthews then physically challenged the officers," Couturier told Justice Lloyd Robertson during the Calgary Court of Justice hearing. "The challenge resulted in two officers attempting to gain physical control of Mr. Matthews, who resisted, and was directed to the ground in the struggle."
Corrections Officer Stabbed with Homemade Weapon
Corrections officer Vivien Mitchell responded to an officer needs assistance call and arrived at the cell area to help restrain Matthews. During the altercation, Matthews reached into his coveralls and retrieved a homemade shank weapon, stabbing Mitchell in the arm.
"Mr. Mitchell observed the two other officers attempting to physically restrain Mr. Matthews," Couturier explained. "Mr. Mitchell began to assist. During the altercation, Mr. Matthews reached into his coveralls and retrieved a homemade shank weapon and stabbed Mr. Mitchell in the arm."
Mitchell was eventually taken to Foothills Medical Centre for treatment of a puncture wound to his right arm with a scratch extending the length of his forearm. Medical staff used dressing to control the bleeding before discharging him.
Ongoing Murder Trial and Sentencing
Matthews is currently serving an eight-year sentence on multiple charges related to his arrest in the fatal shooting of Jordan Jacques-Vetten, a homeless man killed on September 9, 2023. He is also awaiting a verdict in his second-degree murder trial for Jacques-Vetten's death.
Both Couturier and defence counsel Rebecca Snukal jointly proposed an eight-month jail term for the assault on Mitchell, which will run concurrently with Matthews' existing eight-year sentence. Snukal has conceded that Matthews fatally shot Jacques-Vetten during a botched robbery in the Capitol Hill neighborhood in the early morning hours of September 9, 2023.
"A youth, who was convicted of manslaughter, approached Jacques-Vetten with the intent to rob him of his backpack and during that altercation Matthews shot the deceased," court documents revealed.
Lengthy Sentence Expected Regardless of Verdict
Both lawyers noted that regardless of the decision by Court of King's Bench Justice Lisa Silver—who will determine if Matthews is guilty of second-degree murder or manslaughter when she hands down her verdict in June—the accused will be receiving a lengthy sentence for that crime.
The case highlights the dangerous conditions faced by corrections officers working in remand facilities and the complex legal proceedings surrounding violent offenders facing multiple serious charges. The Calgary Remand Centre incident serves as a sobering reminder of the risks inherent in managing incarcerated individuals awaiting trial for violent crimes.
