TRURO, N.S. – A preliminary inquiry for a Bayhead man charged in the death of his neighbour has been tentatively scheduled for two weeks next September.
Ernest (Junior) Ross Duggan, 49, appeared briefly via video-link in provincial court in Truro on Thursday morning. He is charged with first-degree murder in the Sept. 17 death of 58-year-old Susan Butlin.
Duggan is also charged with attempted murder relating to an armed standoff with police on the morning after Butlin’s death.
Duggan was wounded in an exchange of gunfire with the police during the standoff and Thursday his right arm remained in a sling, as it had in a previous hearing.
Legal Aid defense lawyer, Dave Mahoney, who is representing Duggan along with Stephanie Hillson of Amherst, told the court he is still awaiting disclosure information from the Crown attorney’s office.
The preliminary hearing is tentatively set for the weeks of Sept. 10 and 17, 2018. A focus hearing has been set for Nov. 23 to clarify those dates as well as to provide and update on the status of the disclosure material.
Duggan has been remanded in custody at the Central Nova Scotia Correctional Facility in Burnside until at least the November hearing.
