‘Black Widow’ changes her last name

Melissa Ann Shephard to receive trial date next month

SYDNEY — A Nova Scotia woman dubbed the “Internet Black Widow” is now scheduled to appear in Supreme Court on Dec. 3 to receive a trial date on charges of attempted murder and administering a noxious substance, benzodiazepine, with intent to endanger a life.

In addition to being assigned a court date Wednesday, Crown attorney Diane McGrath was granted an amendment to change the last name of Melissa Ann Weeks on the court information. She will now be known as Melissa Ann Shephard.

Outside the courtroom, McGrath explained to reporters that the police investigation has determined that the accused’s correct surname is Shephard.

Shephard, 77, is charged with attempting to murder Fred Weeks, whom she married Sept. 25 in New Glasgow. The charges were filed a week after the wedding, with the offences allegedly occurring between Sept. 24 and Sept. 30 in North Sydney.

In a recently published interview, Fred Weeks said Nova Scotia’s Vital Statistics division sent him a letter advising it would not register his marriage because false information had been provided on the marriage document.

Shephard is being held at the women’s provincial correctional centre in Dartmouth and appeared in Sydney court via video link. She is expected to appear in person for her Supreme Court date.

Defence lawyer Alan Nicholson said Wednesday his client is anxious to receive a trial date as early as possible and was waiving her right to a preliminary hearing.

He said his client is electing to be tried by judge and jury.

McGrath said the Crown is now ready to proceed to trial whenever a date is assigned by the Supreme Court.

The accused has gone by several surnames in the past, including Shephard and Stewart. She was convicted in 1991 of manslaughter in connection with the death of another husband. She was also convicted of fraud and served time in a Florida jail in connection with another man she hooked up with via an Internet dating site.

The accused was living in a seniors’ apartment complex in New Glasgow where she met and married Weeks.

The couple checked into a North Sydney bed and breakfast where Fred Weeks was reported to be ill and was later taken to the Northside General Hospital.