A man charged with first-degree murder of a Newmarket resident will have his case remanded until November as his lawyer looks over notes and available evidence relevant to the charge.
Phillip Rulli appeared in an Ontario Court of Justice judge-led intensive case management courtroom via video on Oct. 7. His criminal defence lawyer, Darrel Hotz, attended court in person to confirm he would represent Rulli after he was deemed fit to stand trial.
Hotz requested some time to review a disclosure related to the charges and converse with the Crown. The case will be remanded until Nov. 4.
“I have requested disclosure,” said Hotz. “I understand it is rather voluminous due to the nature of the charge.”
Justice of the Peace Nyron Dwyer reviewed an assessment from Dr. Leslie Wong of Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences who found Rulli was fit. The Crown previously filed a Form 48 fitness assessment of the Criminal Code concerned about Rulli’s mental health capacity and whether he is fit to stand trial.
Dwyer asked Rulli if he knew what he was charged with, if he knew Hotz was his defence lawyer, and if he knew the judge's role to ensure he understood the legal process.
Rulli confirmed he did. Hotz conversed with Rulli before the meeting, agreeing he was fit.
“I had a telephone conversation with Mr. Rulli over the weekend, and based on the telephone conversation, sir, he does appear to be fit and does understand the process,” said Hotz.
Hotz said he would call Rulli in a week or two to provide an update.
Rulli was scheduled to be represented by criminal defence lawyer Don Carter but he was not retained.
Justice of the Peace Tina Rotondi previously issued a bench warrant on Sept. 13 after Rulli did not show up in Newmarket Superior Court on his own accord.
Rulli was charged with second-degree murder in the death of Dennis Sweet, 66, in an apartment building at Timothy and Prospect streets in Newmarket.
York Regional Police were called to the building for a welfare check on Sept. 2, where they found Sweet, who had been stabbed and was pronounced dead at the scene.
The accused and the victim were known to each other, police said.
