Finn allowed to represent himself
Pre-trial set for Feb. 1 in the Home Depot parking lot shooting
Justice Jennifer Broderick has granted Terrance Finn his wish, allowing the accused murderer to represent himself.
Finn, 74, of Westwood in Asphodel-Norwood Township, is charged with first-degree murder in the shooting death of his wife Sandra on Aug. 22.
Sandra Finn was shot in the Home Depot parking lot in Peterborough and died later that day in a Toronto hospital. Her husband was arrested at the scene by Peterborough police.
She was a retired secretary and insurance adjuster at the former Fleetwood Canada Inc. recreational vehicle factory in Lindsay.
“I know what I did was wrong,” Finn told Broderick on Thursday after explaining that his intention all along was to represent himself, and plead guilty.
Broderick, who has presided over the case since Finn’s third court appearance, set a threehour judicial pretrial for Feb. 1 in Ontario Court of Justice in Peterborough.
Finn will also return to the Simcoe Street courthouse on Jan. 22, where he’ll have a chance to review the prosecution’s case against him.
Broderick, who advised Finn in the early going to seek legal representation, agreed to move the matter ahead after Finn told the court Wednesday that there was a breakdown in communication with the lawyer that was trying to help him secure government funding to hire a lawyer. Finn was denied funding.
“I will defend myself,” Finn reassured the court Thursday, noting that he might not be good at it.
Broderick advised the accused on how the pretrial would work, explaining the closed meeting between the justice, the Crown and Finn would be a frank discussion about the case, including the evidence, and possibly Finn’s defence. Finn told Broderick he didn’t care to view the evidence, but she highly recommend he did.
“It is important that you review your disclosure. You need to know the Crown’s case against you,” Broderick explained.
Finn also asked if he should be evaluated by somebody. She’d advised Finn not to talk too much about the case on while on public record.
“We will work our way through it,” Finn said before being brought back to the cells.