Tyler Noel's murder inquiry sees victim's mom rush out in tears
Noel, 19, of Moncton, is charged with 1st-degree murder and arson in death of Baylee Wylie, 18, in December
Amanda Wylie rushed out of a Moncton courtroom crying on Tuesday morning, during the preliminary inquiry of one of the people accused of killing her son.
Tyler Dominique Noel, 19, is charged with first-degree murder and arson in connection with the death of 18-year-old Baylee Wylie, whose body was discovered in a burned apartment on Sumac Street on Dec. 17.
The inquiry, which started on Monday and is scheduled to last all week, will determine if there's enough evidence for Noel to stand trial.
There is a publication ban on any evidence presented at the inquiry. The ban includes members of the public using social media.
Noel appeared relaxed during breaks in the proceedings on Tuesday, smiling and chatting with supporters who filled the front row on one side of the courtroom in the morning. The courtroom was packed during the afternoon session.
The preliminary hearing has heard from a total of nine witnesses so far. It is scheduled to resume on Wednesday at 9:30 a.m.
The Crown prosecutors handling the hearing are Annie St. Jacques and Eric Lalonde.
Legal aid lawyers Sylvain Pelletier and Martin Goguen are representing Noel.
7 people charged
Noel, who was arrested on a Canada-wide warrant in Elgin on Jan. 9 and remains in custody, is one of three people charged with first-degree murder and arson in connection with Wylie's death.
Devin Morningstar, 18, who previously waived his right to a preliminary inquiry, is scheduled to stand trial starting on Oct. 18. Eight weeks have been set aside. He also remains in custody and is scheduled to return to court on May 25.
Two men who were arrested with Noel — Bradley Bonnell, 20, and Zachary Holden, 19 — are accused of assisting him to evade police. They are charged with being accessories to murder after the fact.
Bonnell, who has pleaded not guilty to that and other charges, has elected to be tried by judge and jury.
Holden is scheduled to return to court on May 27.
Krystal Dawn Toole, 32, and Stephen Nagle, 22, were also both charged with being an accessory after the fact to the murder of Wylie by allegedly assisting Shephard to evade police.
Toole was ordered last week to stand trial. She has elected to be tried by a judge without a jury. A trial date will be set on June 6.
Nagle, who is the father of Shephard's young son, changed his plea to guilty on April 25 and was sentenced to nine months in jail and one year of probation.