An elderly Wallaceburg man accused of murdering his wife on Boxing Day last year is going to trial.
The 95-year-old was charged with second degree murder by Chatham-Kent police after officers found his 89-year-old wife without vital signs at an apartment on Margaret Avenue. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene.
On Monday, the man's lawyer, Greg McGivern, said the matter was adjourned to January 31, 2022 to confirm his client's trial date. McGivern said the defence, the Crown, and the doctor who performed a psychiatric evaluation to determine if the accused is criminally responsible for the murder are trying to come up with dates that work for everyone. McGivern said the doctor is expected to give evidence related to his client's criminal responsibility.
The senior accused in this case was sent to a facility in St. Thomas for a mental health assessment at the end of January to determine if he was fit to stand trial, if he bears any criminal responsibility for the crime, or has a mental disorder that would exempt him from responsibility.
There is a publication ban preventing his name and evidence heard in court from being published to protect the victim's identity and the legal proceedings.
The accused remains at the Windsor jail awaiting his fate.
