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Supreme Court clears way for third trial in 2000 killings of Nova Scotia couple

HALIFAX — A Nova Scotia man accused of killing a couple in their Hants County home more than 22 years ago will face a new trial after the Supreme Court of Canada on Thursday refused to hear a Crown appeal.
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The Supreme Court of Canada is pictured in Ottawa on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2023 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

HALIFAX — A Nova Scotia man accused of killing a couple in their Hants County home more than 22 years ago will face a new trial after the Supreme Court of Canada on Thursday refused to hear a Crown appeal.

Leslie Greenwood has twice been convicted of first-degree murder in the September 2000 deaths of Barry Kirk Mersereau and Nancy Paula Christensen, and twice the convictions were thrown out on appeal.

In the most recent ruling in July, the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal set aside the convictions and ordered a new trial.

The Nova Scotia Crown had sought to overturn the latest decision, but the high court refused to hear the case. As is standard, the judges did not provide reasons.

Nova Scotia prosecutors say a pretrial conference in Halifax Supreme Court is scheduled for March 16, which will focus on disclosure of evidence for the upcoming trial.

Trial dates are to be set in Kentville Supreme Court after preliminary matters are resolved.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 17, 2023.

The Canadian Press