PICTOU - The preliminary inquiry for a Pictou County man accused of first-degree murder resumed Monday afternoon in Pictou provincial court.
Christopher Alexander Falconer, 30, entered the courtroom with sheriffs to start the second week of the inquiry that is scheduled to last 15 days.
He is accused of kidnapping and murdering 19-year-old Amber Kirwan who disappeared from downtown New Glasgow in October 2011. Her remains were found in Heathbell a month later.
Before the inquiry began Monday, the Crown asked the court to ban from publication or broadcast the identification of witnesses testifying at the preliminary hearing. The Crown's request for the application came two days after the The News had published the names of people who had testified in the opening days of the inquiry.
The News had published the names of the witnesses after seeking approval from Judge Del Atwood about using a sketch artist inside the courtroom. A media representative from the Courts of Nova Scotia contacted Atwood who responded through email by saying that the publication ban involved evidence presented at the inquiry, but stated there have been no orders by the court to ban the identification of witnesses.
However, after hearing the Crown argument Monday for such a ban, Atwood granted the request and ruled "from this moment on" that the identification of witnesses be banned from publication or broadcast.
Following the judge's ruling, the Crown continued on with its case by calling witness 15 to testify. It ended its day with witness 17 on the stand.
The inquiry will resume with a full-day session tomorrow.
