The scheduling of three high-profile Chatham-Kent trials has been postponed to a later date due to various factors.
The murder trial of Jeffrey Davis was tentatively set for April 2026. However, the court was notified by the prosecution on Monday that it likely won't happen until January 2027 because his request to change lawyers was recently approved, and she requires time to review the case.
The co-accused, Shaquille Belle, is also in limbo.
Both men remain in custody and will return to Chatham court on March 23 to move the case ahead, as trial delay is a "pressing issue."
The next court date to schedule those trials is on May 25.
Justice Brian Dube noted that the trial may not be held in Chatham due to security issues.
Both men are charged with the murder of 27-year-old Louise Thomson of Milton in Chatham in the summer of 2024.
A 70-year-old Wallaceburg man charged with first-degree murder is also waiting for a trial date after the scheduling of his trial was postponed on Monday.
Marc Lebelle was charged after Chatham-Kent police found a body in a home on Elgin Street in Wallaceburg at the end of October 2023.
Lebelle's judicial pre-trial continues on April 24 before his case returns to the court in Chatham on May 25 to set a trial date.
The trial of Jaise Thomas won't be set until May 25 either, after the case was adjourned on Monday.
Thomas is charged with dangerous driving causing death in connection with a deadly crash just outside of Tilbury in January 2025 that claimed the life of 18-year-old Sebastian Belliveau.
His judicial pre-trial is set for April 20.
All of the above cases are under publication bans that prevent more information from being made public.
