Preliminary hearing begins in shooting case

A preliminary hearing scheduled for two days began Tuesday in the case of a 36-year-old man charged with attempted murder after a man was shot March 10 at a Water St. rooming house.

Julian Graham, of no fixed address, appeared before Justice Robert Beninger in Peterborough Ontario Court of Justice for the proceeding, which determines if there is sufficient evidence to set the matter down for trial before a judge in Superior Court of Justice.

The second and final day of the hearing, which is being prosecuted by assistant Crown attorney Andrew Midwood, is scheduled for Friday.

A publication ban prohibits publishing any evidence from the hearing, including information that could identify any witnesses.

The shooting victim was treated by paramedics and transferred to a Toronto hospital, where his conditionimproved, said police, who noted the act was not random. Graham was arrested in the Oshawa area on March 11 with help from Durham Regional Police.

Graham was initially charged with aggravated assault, pointing a firearm, discharge a restricted/prohibited firearm with intent, unauthorized possession of a prohibited or restricted firearm, possession of loaded prohibited or restricted firearm, careless use of firearm-weapon, prohibited device or ammunition, and firearm - use while committing offence, as well as three counts of possession of firearm or ammunition contrary to prohibition order.

The attempted murder charge was added to the list in early April.

Graham remains in custody at the Toronto South Detention Centre in Etobicoke, which has been the subject of some of his previous court dates. He has sought to be moved to Toronto East Detention Centre in Scarborough order to be closer to his family.

Graham has been represented by John Fennel of Toronto firm Hicks Adams LLP.