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Justin Kuijer, the 43-year-old St. Catharines, Ont. man accused in the killing of his seven-year-old stepson, showed no emotion in court Thursday as his family members broke down in tears.
Nathan Dumas was found critically injured in a home in St. Catharines, Ont., Friday morning. He was rushed to hospital, but died early Saturday and police have not commented on his cause of death.
WATCH: Justin Kuijer appears in St. Catharines, Ont., court. Catherine McDonald reports.
Kuijer was arrested Tuesday in Kenora, Ont., near the Manitoba border, after a four-day manhunt. Police said he managed to travel more than 2,000 kilometres before his capture.
Niagara Regional Police said Wednesday a tip from a member of the public was instrumental in helping to locate the former roofing company owner in a Walmart parking lot just before 5 p.m. Tuesday.
READ MORE: Tip from public helped locate Ontario man wanted in death of 7-year-old stepson: police
Kuijer appeared briefly for a first appearance in court to face a first-degree murder charge in Dumas’ death, but his lawyer said the possibility of a bail hearing application would be announced at a later date.
He was also charged with attempted murder in connection with a stabbing at a Royal Bank branch located at 211 Martindale Rd. Friday, in which a woman was hospitalized. Police said Kuijer and the unidentified victim had a professional relationship at the bank.
VIDEO: Justin Kuijer, accused of killing stepson, returned to Niagara Region after arrest
“All that happened today was a first appearance, a non-communication order — he’s gone over for three, four weeks,” Toronto lawyer Scott Reid said outside court, adding it was too early to discuss the possibility of a bail hearing.
“As a general rule, when someone is charged with murder, the onus is on them to bring an application in the Superior Court for bail.”
Kuijer was also given an order not to have contact with Nathan Dumas’ mother Whitney Dumas, his two siblings, grandparents and a sixth woman.
READ MORE: Justin Kuijer, wanted on Canada-wide arrest warrant in death of 7-year-old stepson, arrested
He appeared unshaven, tired, pale and emotionless in the prisoner’s box, declined to look up to address family members in the courtroom and instead focused his attention on his lawyer throughout the brief appearance.
“I’m not going to discuss my client, I’m not going to discuss how he’s doing or anything he said,” Reid said.
“It’s far too early at this stage to start talking about bail hearings, this was just my first appearance here, his first appearance here — I’m not going to have any comment on the case.”
VIDEO: Sense of relief after period of ‘great fear’ before Kuijer arrest
Close to a dozen of Kuijer’s friends and family appeared in court and were heard sobbing throughout the proceedings. Kuijer’s sister Lee-Ann Kuijer ran from the courthouse in tears and offered no statement.
His next court appearance in St. Catharines will take place April 19.
A visitation for Nathan Dumas will be held at Pleasantview Funeral Home in Fonthill, Ont. Thursday between 6 and 8 p.m. and on Friday between 12 and 2 p.m. A celebration of his life will then be held in the funeral home’s chapel at 2 p.m.
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