Hale faces first-degree murder charge
Sep 26, 2008 - 12:42 PM
By Jeff Mitchell
LINDSAY -- An Oshawa man accused of murdering his estranged wife remains in custody after a brief court appearance Friday.
Jack Phillip Hale, 56, faces a charge of first-degree murder in the shotgun slaying of Yvonne Leroux, 58, Sept. 18 in a trailer park near Lindsay. Mr. Hale was the target of an intensive police manhunt in the hours after the killing. He was arrested by OPP officers who spotted his car on Hwy. 7 east of Peterborough.
Speaking on Mr. Hale's behalf in a Lindsay courtroom Friday lawyer Tom Balka consented to the retired GM worker's ongoing detention as he awaits disclosure from the Crown. A decision on whether or not Mr. Hale will seek a bail hearing is pending, Mr. Balka said.
If such a hearing commenced it would be the defendant's onus to show a Superior Court judge why he ought to be released while awaiting trial.
"He's having a difficult time," Mr. Balka said outside court.
"It's difficult for everyone. It's a very tragic situation."
Mr. Leroux has been in custody since his arrest late in the afternoon of Sept. 18, several hours after the 7 a.m. shooting near Lindsay. Police quickly identified a witness and throughout the day kept an eye out for Mr. Hale's red Chrysler.
Several people were present when the shooting took place, City of Kawartha Lakes OPP said the day of the incident.
Mr. Hale was stopped and arrested without incident near Havelock, about 75 km from the scene of the shooting.
Officers recovered a gun from Mr. Hale's car during the arrest, police said.
During Friday's appearance Mr. Hale appeared quite different from his first trip to bail court a week earlier, when he was dishevelled and clad in a grey prison jump suit. Friday Mr. Hale walked into the prisoner's box wearing a brown jacket and slacks, with dark-rimmed eyeglasses on his face. He conferred quietly with Mr. Balka and stood in the box, bent at the waist as he strained to hear what was being said.
Mr. Hale, who is also charged with break and enter and using a firearm during the commission of an offence, was ordered to return to court by video Oct. 16.
Recommend :
Latest News
Soldiers paint realistic portrait of war for studentsOSHAWA -- Students at Monsignor Paul Dwyer Catholic High School saw war through the eyes of a solider during a special presentation at the school in honour of Remembrance Day ...
United Way has new executive directorDURHAM -- Bonnie Harkness is going from a receiver to a giver as the new executive director of the United Way of Ajax-Pickering-Uxbridge. Ms. Harkness takes over on Dec. 15, ...
Medal arrives 62 years lateUXBRIDGE -- Ron Matheson thought he was going to the Uxbridge Legion recently to see the pipe band play. "The Legion pipe major called me up and said there's a ...
Talks on police contract break downDURHAM -- Talks aimed at ending a contract dispute between Durham cops and the police services board have failed. Negotiations broke down again Friday when the Durham Regional...
Family worried about missing Pickering womanPICKERING -- A search continues for a Pickering woman who's been missing for more than a week. Monica Tierra, 44, of Wilcroft Court, has not been seen or heard from since Nov....
Shoddy reno work results in chargesWHITBY -- Shoddy work on a home-renovation project has led to charges against two Durham contractors. Inspections carried out after the homeowner complained about the work ...
Stories to look out for next weekDURHAM -- To commemorate Remembrance Day this year, the students at Monsignor Paul Dwyer Catholic High School in Oshawa will be treated to a special presentation from Corporal...
Bail hearing delays in Durham 'unreasonable': JudgeDURHAM -- Deep
systemic problems in Durham Region courts mean ...
Lesbian couple attacked by man outside Oshawa schoolOSHAWA -- Anji Dimitriou has a black eye days after she was attacked in front her children’s school. She says her vision is still blurry and the shock is still sinking in. ...
Four more cases of candy tamperingPICKERING -- Police have confirmed four more cases of tainted candy handed out to children in Pickering on Halloween. And while Durham police have issued appeals for parents ...