A summer 2017 preliminary inquiry is has been scheduled for the Calgary man accused of killing Sara Baillie and her daughter Taliyah Marsman.
Edward Downey’s appearance in court was excused, but his lawyer Gavin Wolch appeared on his behalf Thursday morning.
Wolch entered pleas of not guilty to two counts of first degree murder. The prelim is scheduled for August 14-25, 2017.
READ MORE: Case of Edward Downey, accused killer of Taliyah Marsman and Sara Baillie, put over until next week
Wolch told media outside court there were some scheduling issues that led to the hearing being scheduled so far away.
“With the court, with the officers that will testify with the crown, with us. It’s a matter of coordinating everyone’s schedules,” he said.
“For somebody in custody, we want to proceed quickly.”
Baillie was found dead inside her northwest Calgary home July 11, sparking an Alberta-wide Amber Alert for daughter Taliyah that ended in tragedy.
It’s believed Baillie’s little girl, Taliyah, was killed just hours after Baillie.
READ MORE: Who is Edward Downey? Man charged with first degree murder in Taliyah Marsman’s death
The search for the five-year-old came to a heartbreaking end July 14 after Calgary police found her body just outside the city limits.
Later that night Calgary police charged Downey.
Downey was previously convicted of drug trafficking, weapons and prostitution-related charges and has ties to organized crime, with affiliations to a high profile Canadian gang that originates out of Nova Scotia.
High-profile criminal lawyer Hersh Wolch and his son Gavin Wolch are retained as Downey’s defence team.
Downey, 46, remains in remand.
READ MORE: Man charged with Sara Baillie, Taliyah Marsman murders didn’t pose ‘undue risk’: parole board
When asked how Downey is doing in custody, Wolch told reporters, “he’s got serious charges hanging over him.”
His lawyers have not yet taken a position on bail.
Wolch noted they still don’t have full disclosure in the case.
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