Joel Clow, accused of first-degree murder, finds new lawyer

Joel Lawrence Clow, the man charged with first degree murder in the death of TraciLynnLynch told a judge today he has found a new lawyer, but the case now won't go to trial for months.

Clow, 47, stood in handcuffs and leg irons in P.E.I. Supreme Court.

"Yes, m'lord," he said, when the judge asked him if he'd managed to find a new lawyer.

That lawyer, court heard, is Joel Pink, a criminal defence lawyer based in Halifax. He frequently acts as defence counsel in criminal matters in P.E.I. courts.

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Clow is charged with murder, and with indecent interference with a human body, in connection with the death of TraciLynch, last July in Pleasant Grove.

Clow's trial was scheduled to begin last month, but his defence lawyer at the timeresigned unexpectedly at what was to have been the first day of the trial.

That lawyer, Thane MacEachern, sat beside Clow in Supreme Court today, acting on behalf of the accused man's new legal counsel.

MacEachern told court Clow'snew lawyer needstime to review the case and requested an adjournment until October, and to wait until then to set a new date for trial.

Prosecutor Cindy Wedge called the delay "far from ideal."

She told court she doesn't want to give the accused any chance of claiming his right to a quick and timely trial has been denied, due to the adjournment.

"The Crown is prepared to proceed. The crown wants to proceed. Any further delay is solely attributable to the accused," Wedge told court.

"Things don't always flow as smoothly as we would prefer," Justice Wayne Cheverie replied. "There is zero chance the accused can claim he's the victim of unfair delays."

The case is adjourned until Oct. 21, at which time a new date for the trial is to be determined.

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