Fatal stabbing case adjourned until May 11

The man accused of the fatal stabbing of a 43-year-old Stewart Street resident in February appeared in court via video Thursday.

Bryan Townson, 35, made a brief appearance in Peterborough Ontario Court of Justice. He’s charged with the first-degree murder of Paul Atchison, who was stabbed to death downtown on February 8.

Mr. Atchison’s death is the first alleged homicide in the city this year.

Duty counsel took a moment to speak with Townson in court as his Toronto-based lawyer, Alison Craig, was unable to attend. The matter was put over until May 11, while disclosure – the Crown’s files on the case – is reviewed.

Mr. Atchison was found on a sidewalk on Dalhousie Street near his home on Stewart Street after a 911 call was made shortly after midnight. Paramedics rushed him to Peterborough Regional Health Centre, where he was pronounced dead.

Police followed a blood trail from the stabbing scene a few blocks north to the corner of King and Bethune streets. That’s where officers found and arrested two suspects – Townson and a woman. Townson was charged and the woman was released.

Mr. Atchison and Townson knew each other and the weapon believed to be involved in the stabbing was recovered.

Townson is being held in Central East Correctional Centre.

Chan hearing starts Monday

Meanwhile, the preliminary hearing for Thomas Chan starts Monday in Peterborough Superior Court of Justice. It’s slated to end May 12.

Chan, 20, is charged with the second-degree murder of his father, Dr. Andrew Chan, 50, and the attempted murder of his dad’s girlfriend, Lynn Witteveen, 50.

He was charged after police were called to a disturbance at Dr. Chan’s west-end home on December 28. Officers arrived to find Dr. Chan dead and Witteveen injured.

Witteveen is suing Chan and his mother Rosalia Vastano for $3.95 million for negligence.

Court documents argue that Vastano had a duty to warn Witteveen and Dr. Chan of an imminently dangerous situation, but she didn’t.

Chan was released on $400,000 bail on April 27, 2016.

JASON BAIN/EXAMINER FILES A tribute to Paul Atchison, 43, who died Feb. 8 after an early-morning stabbing near his home on Stewart St., is seen outside his home in unit 3 at 200 Stewart St. near Dalhousie St. five days later. Bryan Townson, 35, of Stewart St. was charged with first-degree murder.