It was anything but a routine court appearance today (Friday) for a Belleville man charged with first degree murder.
Frederick Gordon Howes was charged with murder after a man was found without vital signs at a Canadian Mental Health Association transitional house on Murney Street in February of 2019.
The victim was a 23-year-old man from London. Howes was 49 when the incident occurred.
Appearing via video from the Quinte Detention Centre Howes screamed into the camera in a brief profanity-laced diatribe against the court.
He was quickly removed from the room by a prison guard. Howes has previously been assessed for mental health issues.
In the end it was decided the matter will go straight to Superior Court without a preliminary hearing.
A date for trial has not been set. That will be discussed at a June 25 hearing in Assignment Court.
