Alberta judge explains why murder suspect was told to remove his mask during trial Poll Yes By The Canadian Press on April 1, 2021. Judges bench at the Edmonton Law Courts building on Friday, June 28, 2019. An Edmonton judge has released a written decision for why he ordered a murder suspect to remove his COVID-19 mask during his recent trial. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson EDMONTON – A judge has released a written decision explaining why he ordered a murder suspect to remove his COVID-19 mask during a recent trial. Arnold Anton Stephens was charged with second-degree murder in the stabbing death of 17-year-old Ashton Cardinal in June 2017.