Brandon Phillips will stand trial for 1st-degree murder

A judge has ruled that Brandon Phillips, 28, accused of killing a man during an alleged robbery at a St. John's hotel, will stand trial for first-degree murder.

• Brandon Phillips charged in Captain's Quarters hotel slaying

The ruling was made Friday byJudge Mark Pike after a preliminary hearing in provincial court in St. John's.

The case now goes toNewfoundland Supreme Court.

Phillipsis alleged to have fatally shot Larry Wellman, 63, during an alleged armed robbery at the Captain's Quarters hotel in St. John's in October 2015.

Wellman was a patron at the hotel bar at the time of the shooting and was said to have intervened.

The alleged robbery and shooting wererecorded by the bar's surveillance cameras.

Lawyers fromNova Scotiahave been asked to handle the murder trial, to avoid what the justice department in Newfoundland and Labradorcalls a potential conflict of interest.

The province's Director of Public Prosecutions, DonovanMolloy, told CBC News in October 2015. "We're not prepared to comment on what the potential conflict might be at this time."

Not long after Philips was charged, the court ordered that he not have any contact with long list of people, includinghisgirlfriend, Jade Ball.

Jade Ball is the daughter of Dwight Ball, the premier of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Besides first-degree murder, Phillipsis also charged with armed robbery, committing an offence while disguised, assault with a weapon and carrying a firearm without a licence.