Nine days set aside for preliminary inquiry for Deer Lake man charged with murder

A preliminary inquiry into the case of a Deer Lake man charged with murder has been set for this summer.

Justin Campbell, 33, is accused of murdering Eva Banfield, 69, in Deer Lake between Aug. 30 and Sept. 7, 2023.

He’s also alleged to have stolen money from Banfield.

Campbell and Banfield are related; however, the nature of that relationship has not yet been revealed in court.

Campbell, who has been in custody since his arrest on Sept. 9, 2023, appeared in provincial court in Corner Brook via teleconference on Tuesday, Feb. 27.

His lawyer, Jonathan Regan, also appeared via teleconference and informed the court that he is still waiting on some disclosure in the case, but he was prepared to set dates for a preliminary inquiry.

In consultation with the Crown, Regan said, they estimated two weeks would be required for the preliminary inquiry.

DATES SET

The preliminary inquiry will begin on Aug. 26 and go until Aug. 30. It will resume on Sept. 3 for four more days, until Sept. 6.

Should Campbell be committed to stand trial for Banfield’s murder, that charge comes with an automatic election of a trial by a judge and jury in the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador.

The theft charge requires Campbell to elect to be tried by a judge and jury or by a judge alone. That charge has been set to the same dates as the preliminary inquiry for status as to Campbell’s election.

Regan is expected to file a list of issues and witnesses for the preliminary inquiry with the court by the end of this week.