Achi news desk-
The case of the young man accused in the death of Tyson MacDonald was heard very briefly in a court in Prince Edward Island on Thursday morning before it was adjourned once again.
Friends and family appeared wearing blue and yellow number eight hoodies – Tyson McDonald’s hockey number – as a sign of support for the family and as a call for justice in the teenager’s murder.
His body was found in the woods after a five-day search at the end of last year.
The lawyer for the teenager charged with first-degree murder in the death spoke briefly in a Georgetown, PEI court Thursday. The teenager did not make an appearance.
The Crown is waiting for reports, which the prosecutor, Jeff MacDonald, said will be fundamentally important to how the prosecution and the defense proceed with the case.
The matter was adjourned until June 6. The Crown said they expect to have all the disclosure and investigation, as well as the outcome of those reports, that are needed to move forward.
The accused consented to remain in custody.
A second teenager who was also originally charged with murder will appear in court on Friday for sentencing after pleading guilty to charges relating to obstructing police in the search for Tyson MacDonald. That murder charge has been stayed.
That teenager also remains in custody, despite attempts by the defense to secure bail.
Neither teenager can be identified due to a publication ban under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
The sentencing hearing is expected to last much of the day on Friday with a number of victim and community impact statements to be recorded, an important part of the context the judge will use to make her decision.
