Ager Hasan’s murder trial delayed again to Jan. 9

The trial of a man charged with murdering his ex-girlfriend in Kitchener five years ago has been delayed again.

Ager Hasan’s second-degree murder trial had been set to begin in Kitchener next Monday but has been adjourned to January after he discharged his defence lawyer this week.

The Hamilton man, 29, is charged with killing Melinda Vasilije. The 22-year-old was found dead on April 28, 2017, in her apartment on Country Hill Drive, near Block Line Road. She had multiple stab wounds to her neck and chest.

Hasan fled to the United States. The U.S. Secret Service arrested him more than two months later, on July 11, 2017, in

San Antonio, Texas, on a tip that he might have been involved in counterfeit money.

His jury trial had originally been set for September 2019 but was adjourned at the request of the defence. It was then rescheduled for May 2020 but was put on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The trial was then scheduled to begin on Monday, but has now been delayed to Jan. 9 after

Hasan discharged his lawyer, Jason Little, this week and said he will look for a new lawyer.

The trial is expected to last five weeks.

The Supreme Court of Canada’s decision in R. v. Jordan sets timelines to bring an accused person to trial. Proceedings for serious charges have a 30month cap. But the Jordan clock is paused if delays are caused by the defence.