Dean Penney appears in Corner Brook courtroom on 1st-degree murder charge

Dean Penney sat quietly in a Corner Brook courtroom on Monday afternoon for the first time since he was charged with murdering his estranged wife, Jennifer Hillier-Penney. 

About a dozen of his former in-laws sat in front of him as the brief court appearance passed without outbursts or incidents.

Penney stands accused of murder in the first degree, related to the disappearance of Hillier-Penney seven years ago. He was charged on Saturday, as part of what the RCMP calls a long and complex investigation.

His appearance Monday was brief. Rosellen Sullivan, a longtime St. John's defence lawyer, is representing him. 

The case has been set over until Friday at 11 a.m. NT.

Penney remains in custody.

Hiller-Penney's oldest daughter, Marina Goodyear, sat at the end of a bench inside the courtroom, often looking directly at Penney — who looked back on multiple occasions.

She and her family believe her mother's killer has been caught and that her father will be going to jail.

"That man killed my mother, and he laughed in my face. The last time I seen him, he waved and grinned at me. And I'm the one on the other side grinning now. It looks good on him," Goodyear told CBC News soon after the courtroom was adjourned.

She said she'll continue to be there for each of Penney's appearances.

"I'm not missing a single minute of it. Ever. I'm seeing this out to the end,"

WATCH I Marina Goodyear talks to CBC News after Dean Penney — her father — appeared in court on murder charges:

1st-degree murder charge after 7 years is ‘Christmas miracle,’ says Jennifer Hillier-Penney’s daughter

11 months ago

Duration 2:07

Marina Goodyear, speaking minutes after seeing her father appear in court on a first-degree murder charge, said she was overcome with many emotions. Dean Penney is accused of killing his estranged wife Jennifer Hillier-Penney. Goodyear says this is the start of justice for her mother and it’s a “dream come true.”

"I thought it was over. I did. It was hard to have hope after so many years. But, no, this is a Christmas miracle. This is just, this is what I always wanted. It's happening. My mom is going to get justice."

Goodyear said she and members of her family have been stricken with nerves since Saturday but called being in the courtroom Monday "freeing."

"I'm going to get all my answers when this goes to trial," she said. "This is the start. This is what I've fought for for years."

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