Ugo Fredette makes brief initial court appearance in Saint-Jrme

With his face down, staring intently at the ground, Ugo Fredette made his first court appearance today in Saint-Jrme, Que.

The 41-year-old man, accused of second-degree murder in the death of his partner Vronique Barbe, had been in hospital in Ottawa after asuicide attempt.

Fredettewas transferred to a hospital inSaint-Eustacheover the weekend and is now being held at the detention centre inSaint-Jrme. He has special protection at the jail to stop him from hurting himself and protect him from other inmates, said his lawyer Pierre M. Gauthier.

Fredettearrived at the courthouse around 11 a.m., wearing a white T-shirt. He had small bruises on his right arm.

As part of the proceedings,Fredette was given a list of 11 people with whom he cannot communicate. They arepeople who are close to the victim or who could be witnesses in the case, said Jean-Pascal Boucher, spokesperson for Quebec's Director of Criminal and Penal Prosecutions.

The proceedings lasted about two minutes. No new charges were laid.

Crown prosecutor Steve Baribeau said he and his teamare still waiting for evidence from the Sret du Qubec, andit is possible that new charges will be laid in the future.

Fredette's case will be back in court Oct. 31, when Baribeausaid he hopes to be able to hand over the Crown's proof to the defence team.

Memorial for slain partner

About200 friends and family gathered forBarbe'sfuneral inSaint-Eustacheon Sunday.The mother of four was 41 when she was killed.

An Amber Alert was issued for a six-year-old boy shortly after Barbe's body was discovered in Saint-EustacheSept. 14.

The alert ended when Fredette was arrested in Ontario. The child isin the care of Quebecyouth protection services.

Fredette had been driving the Honda CR-V of Lachute resident Yvon Lacasse, 71, at the time of his arrest. Police allege he stole the vehicle.

Lacasse's body was found in Arundel, near Mont-Tremblant,Wednesday. No charges have been laid in his death.