Edward Downey, charged in connection with the deaths of a 34-year-old woman and her five-year-old daughter, made his first court appearance related to the charges on Wednesday.
Downey appeared in court via CCTV and the case was adjourned until August 3, 2016.
Following the adjournment, Gavin Wolch, Downey's anticipated co-counsel, told reporters he wants a "trial in the courtroom, not in the media or in public"
Wolch expects disclosure to take three to four weeks and for the trial to be heard by jury,
Downey was charged with two counts of first degree murder after investigators located the bodies of Sara Baillie and Baillie’s daughter Taliyah Marsman. Baillie was discovered inside her home in Panorama Hills on July 11 and an Amber Alert was issued for the missing five-year-old. The Amber Alert ended on July 14 following the discovery of Marsman's body in a rural area east of Calgary city limits.
According to police, the accused knew the victims.
The 46-year-old has an extensive criminal history, which dates back to the late-1980s, including a four year sentence for cocaine trafficking and weapons-related charges.
In 2008, a parole board denied Downey’s parole requests on two occasions citing their belief he was a high-risk to reoffend. The board supported its stance with evidence exhibiting Downey’s involvement in the sex trade as an alleged pimp.
A memorial service for Sara Baillie and Taliyah Marsman is scheduled for Thursday afternoon at the Centre Street Church. In lieu of flowers, family members have requested mourners honour the memory of the mother-daughter with a donation to the Missing Children's Society of Canada.
