A man charged with second-degree murder of a Newmarket resident will be represented by a new lawyer.
Phillip Rulli appeared at a Newmarket Ontario Court of Justice meeting via video to answer to the charge on Sept. 16.
Wearing an orange prison uniform, he appeared to be in a better mood than he was in a previous appearance.
He is represented by criminal defence lawyer Don Carter, who requested some time to review the disclosure. The case will be remanded until Sept. 25.
“I am going to get some disclosure on this matter,” said Carter. “We’ll likely be waiving bail and just appearing in court at that time.”
Carter confirmed to Justice of the Peace Ann Johnson he would represent Rulli. Legal aid lawyer Roy Respicio was assisting Rulli with finding a lawyer to represent him on the charges. Respicio will now be taken off the case.
“I am content to take over carriage of Mr. Rulli’s matter and have Mr. Respicio relieved of obligations,” said Carter.
A bench warrant was previously issued by Justice of the Peace Tina Rotondi on Sept. 13 after Rulli did not show up in Newmarket Superior Court of his own accord.
Rulli is 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.
