A man accused of shooting his wife in the parking lot of a Home Depot in Peterborough last month says he simply wants to plead guilty.
Terrance Finn made another court appearance in Peterborough on Wednesday. The 73-year-old man is charged with first-degree murder in the death of his wife, Sandra Finn, 70, following a shooting in a vehicle on the morning of Aug. 22. Police say the woman was first taken to PRHC then airlifted to a Toronto hospital where she died of her injuries.
Witnesses said Finn remained at the scene and placed a gun on the hood of the vehicle and waited for police to arrive.
“I want to plead guilty and move on with the case,” Finn said.
Finn on Wednesday told the court he still does not have a lawyer and did not qualify for legal aid.
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During Wednesday’s court appearance he said several times that he wanted to move the process along, telling the judge that there was, “no sense in wasting time.”
“I want to plead guilty, and move the case along,” Finn said from the prisoner’s dock.”
But the judge overseeing Wednesday’s appearance was reluctant to do that, given Finn’s unrepresented status.
Acknowledging that Finn has the right to represent himself, the judge said at the very minimum Finn needed to sit down and review the Crown’s case against.
The judge said any lawyer retained by Finn would do that with him and provide advice which could help the court proceedings move smoothly if he still wants to enter a plea.
Crown attorney Andrew Midwood said the Crown was in a position to move forward. But Midwood also cautioned that it had to be done responsibly, while acknowledging Finn’s rights.
The case was adjourned until Sept. 20.
Sandra Finn, was a longtime Omemee area resident and a mother of two.
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