A Fort Frances man charged with first-degree murder will be tried Sept. 24.
But Crown Attorney Robert “Buster” Young admitted Thursday that pre-trial motions have to be worked through before the trial of Doug Maki, 28, begins.
“On April 25, there will be assignment court here. There, we’ll try to set a date for a pre-trial and probably go through any other motions that may be brought up,” he noted.
Jury selection had been set for April 23 but Young added that due to undisclosed reasons, the jury would not be selected until closer to the trial date.
He also mentioned it’s possible defence lawyer Gil Labine of Thunder Bay will try to get his client’s trial moved there.
“The only statement I can make is, as Crown Attorney here, I have no intentions of moving this trial to any other venue,” Young remarked.
Maki was arrested April 4 last year in connection with the death of 18-year-old Melani Sutton, who was last seen alive here March 11 and the subject of a widespread search.
Her body later was found March 28 in a bush area about 80 km east of town.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
