Saint John woman charged with 1st-degree murder to face preliminary inquiry in March

A Saint John woman charged with first-degree murder in connection with the discovery of human remains in a wooded area near Lorneville last summer will face a preliminary inquiry in March, while the cases of her two co-accused have been adjourned.

Jinelle Suzanne Thompson, 45, is accused of killing Allan Christopher Lee between July 31 and Aug. 1.

The remains of the 52-year-old Saint John man were discovered on Aug. 1, shortly after 7 p.m., off King William Road, on the same side of the road as the wind turbines.

Investigators deemed his death a homicide based on an autopsy, but his cause of death has not been released.

Charles Pleasance, 56, and Stephen Chester Martin, 65, are each charged with accessory after the fact to murder, for allegedly knowing Thompson had murdered Lee and assisting her to escape.

First-degree murder and accessory after the fact both carry maximum sentences of life in prison.

Thompson, who was arrested on Dec. 12 and remains in custody, appeared in Saint John provincial court Friday afternoon via video conference.

No details were relayed in court but according to court documents, Thompson and Lee were strangers.

Although a Dec. 18 news release from Saint John police announcing the three arrests indicated Thompson was also taken into custody for indignity to human remains, murder is the only charge laid against her, as of Friday.

Police spokesperson acting Staff Sgt. Matthew Weir could not immediately explain the discrepancy or confirm whether a second charge is pending.

Defence lawyer Charles Bryant requested that the murder charge be set down for a preliminary inquiry — a hearing used in serious criminal cases to determine whether the Crown's evidence against an accused is sufficient to proceed with a trial.

Judge Lucie Mathurin scheduled the hearing for March 13, 14 and 20, starting at 9:30 a.m.

Bryant advised the court that he and co-counsel Justin Gulliver intend to apply to the Court of King's Bench for a bail hearing for Thompson.

He also requested two unrelated charges against his client of driving while suspended on Nov. 18 and Nov. 26, both in Grand Manan, be adjourned. Thompson is scheduled to appear on those charges on Feb. 18 at 9:30 a.m.

Defence for co-accused need to review disclosure

Pleasance, who was arrested a day prior to Thompson and remains in custody, appeared in provincial court via video Monday. Bryant, acting as agent for Pleasance's defence lawyer, asked the matter be set over until Jan. 22 to give his lawyer time to review the "significant" disclosure and discuss with Pleasance.

The judge agreed and advised Pleasance he will appear at 9:30 a.m. that day.

"You've got 'er. Ciao, ciao," Pleasance replied.

Martin, who was arrested on Dec. 16 and remains in custody, also appeared in provincial court Monday, but in person, at his request.

His lawyer, who was only retained Friday, requested the case be set over for about three weeks to allow time to review disclosure before deciding how to proceed.

Martin will return to court on Feb. 11 at 9:30 a.m.

Although police said in last month's news release that Martin was also arrested for conspiracy to commit murder, accessory after the fact is the only charge laid against him, as of Monday.

Again, the police spokesperson could not immediately explain the discrepancy or confirm whether a second charge is pending.