A Pictou County man will have his second-degree murder trial held in the New Year.
Robert Jason MacKenzie, 38, who is charged in the death of Nicole Campbell on Dec. 30, 2015, has a new lawyer and trial dates as of Thursday. The judge and jury trial will take place over a period of four weeks in Pictou, beginning on Jan. 7, 2019, with jury selection.
“Frankly, today is to get the matter scheduled,” said Justice James Chipman in Pictou Supreme Court.
The trial dates are dependent upon Chipman getting special permission from the province’s chief justice to extend the amount of time allotted to jury trials so the entire four weeks can be booked.
Malcolm Jeffcock, who is MacKenzie’s new lawyer, said he is still waiting on disclosure from his client’s previous counsel, but he didn’t expect there to be any issue with the new trial dates.
MacKenzie’s trial for second-degree murder was expected to start in late May, but it was adjourned recently when his previous lawyer removed herself from the case because she could not secure the witness she wanted for his defence. MacKenzie waived his Jordan case rights during his last appearance so he could have time to search for a new lawyer. If it the trial goes ahead it in January 2019, it will be three years from the time of the alleged offence.
All parties involved will return to Pictou court on July 19 for a status update on preparations for the trial as well as setting trial dates for alleged offences involving robbery and weapons.
