Accused murderer Dean Penney applies for bail
Three-day hearing set for April
Accused murderer Dean Penney is seeking bail.
Penney, 51, filed an application for bail with the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador in Corner Brook on March 8.
He is alleged to have murdered his estranged wife, Jennifer Hillier-penney, in 2016.
Hillier-penney was 38 when she was last seen at Penney’s home in St. Anthony on Nov. 30, 2016. Her disappearance was deemed suspicious by the RCMP a few days later.
It has been long suspected by many, including Hillier-penney’s family, that Penney had something to do with her disappearance. She had been at the home to care for her and Penney’s then-teenage daughter while Penney was duck hunting.
Despite extensive searches, Hillier-penney’s body has not been found.
Penney was arrested in Deer Lake on Dec. 15, 2023, and charged with first-degree murder. He has been in custody since his arrest.
The RCMP has yet to provide any details of their investigation, including how it was determined that Hillier-penney had been murdered or of the evidence allegedly connecting Penney to the crime.
BAIL HEARING DATES SET
Penney’s application was called in the Supreme Court on Thursday, March 14, to set dates for the bail hearing.
During previous court appearances he had been represented by lawyer Rosellen Sullivan, but he is now represented by Legal Aid lawyer Jason Edwards.
Edwards appeared in court via teleconference and Penney was not present. Unlike previous appearances, there was no one from Hillier-penney’s family present.
After some discussion over the length of time that will be needed for the bail hearing, Justice George Murphy set it for three days, April 15-17.
Edwards has until March 28 to file any briefs related to the case with the court, including affidavits from potential sureties and Penney.
The Crown has until April 10 to file its response.
A publication ban is in place that restricts the publication of any evidence filed in the matter or given at the hearing.
A preliminary inquiry to determine if there is sufficient evidence for Penney to stand trial on the charge has been set for four weeks in the provincial court beginning on Aug. 19.
It will run Aug. 19-23, Sept. 9-13, Oct. 28 to Nov. 1 and Nov. 4-8.