Muskoka’s courts will be busy in 2019.
Starting in January, the preliminary hearing will continue for accused killer Bryan Boland. Boland was charged with first-degree murder in 2017 after the body of his wife was discovered on the driveway of their Wellington Street home. He’s remained in custody while he waits for a trial date, which hasn’t been set yet. His preliminary hearing dates are set for January 8th, 15th and 25th in Bracebridge.
A more recent murder investigation involving a BC man in Gravenhurst is heading to pretrial in January as well. Adam Kehl is facing charges of second-degree murder and indignity to a body after his father was killed on an island on Kahshe Lake in the Muskoka community over the summer. His pretrial will run on January 18th in Bracebridge.
In Huntsville, the preliminary hearing for Charles Hayhoe continues on January 24th. Hayhoe was charged with second-degree murder in early 2017. His arrest came after 45-year-old Michel Earl died from severe beating injuries.
And a trial with a Muskoka tie continues in February. David Sillars will return to an Oshawa courtroom on February 1st, after pleading not guilty to numerous charges including impaired operation of a vessel causing death. Eight-year-old Thomas Rancourt died after falling from a canoe on Muskoka River during the spring of 2017, which led to the arrest of Sillars. His defence lawyer had reportedly attempted to argue a canoe is not considered a vessel, but the judge ruled against that argument, avoiding dismissal of three charges against Sillars.