Dartmouth murder trial adjourned at last minute

A jury trial for a Truro man accused of murdering an elderly Dartmouth woman more than two years ago did not get underway Monday after his lawyers were granted a last-minute adjournment in Nova Scotia Supreme Court.

Richard George Willis, 64, is charged with second-degree murder in the killing of Eleanor Noreen Harding, 85, who was found dead in her home on Lynwood Drive on July 11, 2020.

Details about Monday’s adjournment request by defence lawyers Godfred Chongatera and Laura Mccarthy cannot be reported because of a standard publication ban on applications heard outside the presence of the jury.

Justice Denise Boudreau ordered Willis to appear in Supreme Court Crownside on Thursday to get new dates for his trial, which had been set for six weeks.

Lawyers now believe a four-week block will be sufficient for the hearing.

Following an autopsy, Harding’s death was ruled a homicide. The Crown alleges she was killed July 10, 2020.

Willis was arrested in Dartmouth on July 30, 2020. He was initially accused of firstdegree murder, but prosecutors downgraded the charge to second-degree murder this summer.

More than 150 people summonsed for jury duty attended the Mellor Avenue courthouse in Dartmouth on Monday. They were kept waiting while the judge dealt with the adjournment application.

Afterward, Boudreau thanked everyone in the jury pool for their attendance and their patience before releasing them from their obligation.

“The court is well aware that attending for jury duty has some elements of inconvenience to it,” the judge told the group. “But let me assure me that your presence is invaluable.

“The trial for which you have been summonsed is not going to be proceeding this morning. That is a decision that was just made moments ago, and as a result of that, your presence here today is no longer required.”

Harding’s son and daughter-in-law were in court for the proceeding.

Crown attorneys Rob Kennedy and Scott Morrison did not wish to comment on the adjournment because of the publication ban.