A couple of Chatham murder trials have hit multiple snags with issues around trial delays, venues, and new lawyers coming on board.
The lawyers in the David Thomas first-degree murder case are arguing over where the trial should take place. The Toronto defence prefers the Chatham trial to be transferred to London to cut down on their travel, but the Windsor prosecution wants it held in Windsor.
The 10-week trial for Thomas was to be scheduled on Monday in Chatham court.
Pre-trial dates for Thomas are scheduled for February, March, and April, pending another court date on January 19, 2026, to try and schedule the trial. Delay in getting the case to trial is also a concern.
Thomas remains in custody, charged with first-degree murder in connection with a fatal fire in Chatham in 2022 that killed his daughter.
Thomas was arrested in Fanny Bay, British Columbia May 2024 and was also charged with five counts of arson-disregard for human life, indignity to a body, and arson for a fraudulent purpose.
The charges stem from an overnight house fire on June 25, 2022, at 149 Edgar Street in Chatham, where 22-year-old Bayli Sellars was found deceased.
A Canada-wide warrant was issued on May 7, 2024, for the arrest of Thomas following an investigation into the origin of the fire and to determine the cause of Sellars' death.
The murder trial for Jeffrey Davis of Chatham, tentatively set for April 2026, was to be confirmed in Chatham court on Monday, but he's seeking a change in lawyer. His change was denied, and he's appealing the ruling.
As a result, his pre-trial dates set for February could be vacated as Davis waits to get a new lawyer.
Davis' case will return to Chatham court on January 19, 2026, to possibly set new pre-trial dates if a new lawyer is assigned to the case.
The latest co-accused in the Chatham murder, Shaquille Belle, will also return to Chatham court on January 19, 2026, to proceed with his case after recently getting a lawyer. Belle was charged in September.
Both men remain in custody, accused of murdering 27-year-old Louise Thomson of Milton in Chatham last summer.
The third co-accused, Sky-Linn Holden, is up for a plea in Chatham court on Wednesday. Her plea was rescheduled last week because the defence and prosecution were still discussing the plea.
Holden remains in custody, charged with first-degree murder and committing an indignity to a human body.
Co-accused David Lozon, 59, of Chatham, who was initially charged with first-degree murder, had that charge dropped in late September 2024 because the prosecution said there was not enough evidence and no reasonable prospect of conviction.
Lozon is currently out on bail. He is still charged with committing an indignity to a human body and an accessory after the fact to murder.
All cases have publication bans preventing further information from being made public.
