Briscoe appears in court on new murder charge

Michael Briscoe made a brief appearance in an Edmonton courtroom Monday in connection with the death of Ellie May Meyer.

Briscoe, 39, was charged Friday with first-degree murder in her death. The court heard Briscoe has fired his lawyer and is looking for new counsel. He is scheduled to return to court on May 14.

Meyer's body was found in a farmer's field in Strathcona County in May 2005. She had a history of working as a prostitute.

Briscoe is also facing a first-degree murder charge in the death of 13-year-old Nina Courtepatte, the Edmonton teenager found dead on a golf course west of Edmonton in April 2005.

Courtepatte's mother, Peacha Atkinson, was in court Monday for Briscoe's appearance.  She told reporters she appreciates the thorough job investigators have done in both cases.

"I understand that they have to collect the evidence and they have to make sure the charges stick.  So in my mind they're still doing their job," she said. "'Cause they did such a wonderful job with Nina. They want to make sure nothing goes through the cracks again."

Joseph Laboucan —  who is serving a life sentence for first-degree murder, aggravated sexual assault and kidnapping in Courtepatte's death —also faces a first-degree murder charge in Meyer's death.