Three charged with murder after death of Saskatoon man: RCMP

A suspicious death Monday is now being treated as a homicide, according to the RCMP.

According to police, 40-year-old James Swift of Saskatoon was found dead in the RM of Corman Park early Monday morning. An injured woman was taken to hospital by paramedics.

Police said Swift’s family has been informed of his passing, and support services were made available.

Police released some information about Swift’s death Tuesday morning, indicating he died after being assaulted by three people who were with him and the unnamed woman in a white Honda Civic earlier in the day.

The RCMP said three men are now facing charges in connection with the death. Anthony Burley, a 28-year-old Saskatoon man, and Colton Lischka, a 29-year-old Saskatoon man, were both arrested Monday and now face charges of second-degree murder, attempted murder, robbery, and flight from police officers, the RCMP said.

A third suspect, 28-year-old Ashtin Ritzand, turned himself in to police Tuesday afternoon, the RCMP said. Ritzand is similarly charged with second-degree murder, attempted murder and robbery, along with an additional charge of breaching an undertaking.

Burley and Lischka will remain in custody until a court appearance Wednesday, the RCMP said, while Ritzand will make his first appearance Thursday.

A woman was arrested in connection with the incident along with Burley and Lischka, police said, but she has since been released from custody.