Marissa Shephard preliminary hearing set for May 2017

MarissaShephard, the Moncton woman accused of murdering 18-year-oldBaylee Wyliein Decemberand setting a residence on fire, will face a preliminary inquiry starting May 1, 2017.

It's expected to last a month.

The inquiry will determine if there's enough evidence for Shephard, 20, to stand trial on charges of first-degree murder and arson in connection with Wylie's death.

Shephard made anappearance in Monctoncourt on Friday, in front of Judge Irwin Lampert. She was wearinga blue sweater, grey hairband, pink shirt andwhite pants. She looked around the court several times.

Crown prosecutor Annie St. Jacques asked Shephard to correctly spell her name, which she did loudly from the prisoner's dock.

Her defence lawyer,Gilles Lemieux, saidhis client has elected atrial by judge and jury for both the murder and arsoncharges.

• Marissa Shephard found fit to stand trial on murder, arson charges
• Tyler Noel will stand trial for murder of Baylee Wylie of Moncton

Speaking to reporters after the appearance, Lemieux explained the lengthyamount of time set aside forthe preliminary hearing.

"We are not prepared to concede anything at this point, so the Crown will probably need a lot more time and there's a lot of evidence," said Lemieux. "I can tell you right now that the disclosure at this point is still not complete, there's still a lot of physical evidence that is yet to come, and I don't know how much of it will impact our situation."

Lemieux said the main reason for the long wait until Shephard's preliminary hearing, in spring of 2017, is due to the Crown having three different trials to prepare for involving the same victim, Wylie, with all the different defendants.

He said given that, a reasonable estimate for the date of Shephard's eventual trial would be the fall of 2017.

With that long a wait, he was asked about his client's state of mind.

"How do you describe somebody who's facing the possibility of spending the better part of her adult life behind bars?" said Lemieux."She's not happy about it and she's very concerned but very anxious to have her day in court and to bring out the true facts in the situation."

Still in custody

Friday wasShephard'sfirst time back in court since April, when shewas deemed fit to stand trial, following a 30-day psychiatric assessment.She remains in custody.

Shephard was arrestedin Moncton on March 1after she managed to elude police for 10 weeks. A Canada-wide warrant had been issued for her arrest.

Wylie's body was found in a burned unit of a Moncton triplex on Sumac Street on Dec. 17. RCMP have described his death as beingextremelyviolent, but no details have been released.

Wylie had been living withShephardin the weeks before his death, his mother has said.

Shephard is one of seven people charged in connection with the teen'sdeath.

Tyler Noel, 19,and Devin Morningstar, 18, are also charged with first-degree murder and arson.

Noel, who was also wanted on a Canada-wide warrant and was arrested on Jan. 9, had his preliminary inquiry last month. But the hearing ended abruptly when his defence lawyer announced hehad no issue with the matter being sent to trial.

There is a publication ban on the evidence presented during the hearing.Wylie'smother had rushed out of the courtroom in tears.

Noel is scheduled to return to court on July 4 to set a trial date.

Morningstar waived his right to a preliminary inquiry. His trial is scheduled to start onOct. 18. Eight weeks have been set aside.

A man who was arrested with Shephard,Stephen Nagle, 22, was charged with being an accessory after the fact to the murder of Wylie by helpinghertoevade police.

Nagle, who is the father of Shephard'syoung son,changed his plea to guilty,and was sentenced to nine months in jail and one year of probation.

A woman who was with them,Krystal Dawn Toole, 32, is alsoaccused of helpingShephard to evade police, and ischarged with being an accessoryto murder after the fact.

Toolehas been ordered to stand trial, with atrial date scheduled to be set on June 6.

Meanwhile, two men who were arrested with Noel, Bradley Bonnell, 20,and Zachary Holden, 19,are accused of helpinghim to evade police.

Bonnell and Holden areboth charged with being accessories to murder after the fact, as well as other charges.

Bonnell is scheduled to return to court on June 9 to set a trial date on some chargesand to enter pleas on others.

Holdenis due back in court on June 6.