Calgary man accused of killing wife consents to stand trial for second-degree murder

The preliminary inquiry for a Calgary man accused of killing his wife has wrapped up early after the accused consented to stand trial.

Joshua Burgess is charged with second-degree murder in the death of Shannon Madill (Burgess), who was reported missing in late November 2014.

For seven agonizing months, her family held out hope she’d return. Her body was later recovered at the home the couple shared on Spiller Road S.E.

Watch below: Global’s past coverage of the case

1:58 ‘My heart has a little dark dead area’: mother of Calgary woman allegedly killed by husband

The preliminary inquiry was expected to last two weeks but ended after only two days. The case will be back in court Oct. 7 to set a date for trial.

Evidence presented during the hearing is protected by a publication ban.

READ MORE: ‘My heart has a little dark dead area’ – mother of Calgary woman allegedly killed by husband

It has been an emotional process for the victim’s family.

“You can’t heal and move on,” Shannon’s sister Erin Madill said in a past interview. “It’s a long process…that’s probably the thing that people don’t realize is just how long it actually takes.”

The young woman was an artist: an actress, musician, and photographer.

“It definitely keeps putting you back to exactly Day 1—the emotions become really fresh and with each additional piece of information you find out it’s just another thing you have to come to terms with,” Madill said.