PICTOU – The preliminary inquiry for a Pictou County man accused of murdering and kidnapping Amber Kirwan wrapped up its first week with 15 witnesses taking the stand in Pictou provincial court.
Crown attorney Bill Gorman said the inquiry is on schedule with one third of the number of witnesses being called thus far in the Crown’s case.
“We are 30 per cent done,” he said following witness testimony Thursday. “We are completely on schedule of where we thought we would be. If things unfold as they are now, we will probably be done by March 1st.”
The inquiry started with a half-day session Monday during which time the judge granted a request by the Crown and defence for a publication ban on evidence, which includes social media.
Fifteen days were originally scheduled for the inquiry, but Gorman, his co-counsel Patrick Young, and defence lawyer Mike Taylor agreed early on that it shouldn’t take this long to complete.
Media and public attention on the preliminary inquiry has also decreased throughout the week. During the first afternoon of testimony, the courtroom was half-full with spectators as well as provincial and local media, but by Thursday only a few people from the general public and local media were listening in witness testimony.
Falconer is charged in relation to the death of 19-year-old Kirwan who disappeared from outside a New Glasgow pool hall Oct. 9, 2011. Her remains were found in Heathbell about a month later.
Witness testimony will continue Monday afternoon. Falconer has been remanded to the correctional centre in Burnside until his next court appearance.
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