The Cassidy Bernard murder case has been delayed.
Lawyers for both the Crown and defence asked for more time to review evidence against Dwight Austin Isadore, 20, in Port Hawkesbury Provincial Court Monday afternoon; the matter was adjourned to Jan. 15 in Port Hawkesbury.
The location of any future dates beyond that sparked outrage from Bernard’s supporters who showed up in court.
Judge Laurie Halfpenny-MacQuarrie said hearings after Jan. 15 will take place in Isadore’s home community of Wagmatcook.
After, Annie Bernard-Daisley, Bernard’s cousin and a band councillor in We’koqma’q, told reporters family members have safety concerns with Wagmatcook as a venue.
“Make it comfortable for us- why make it comfortable for him?” she said. “We’ve already gone through hell for the last 13 months.”
Halfpenny-MacQuarrie said Wagmatcook is a new facility with the same safety measures and sheriffs in place as Port Hawkesbury, so future hearings will take place there unless she can be convinced beyond a doubt of any safety concerns.
Bernard-Daisley said Cassidy’s supporters all feel the same way about switching locations.
“We just want it here in Port Hawkesbury- if you can’t have it in Port Hawkesbury, have it Port Hood, have it somewhere else,” she said. “Have it in Sydney, we’ll be there- have it in Halifax, we’ll be there.”
Bernard-Daisley said she doesn’t understand why Isadore can return home when Cassidy never will.
Bernard, a 22-year-old mother of infant twins, was found dead in a We’koqma’q home in Oct. 2018; her children were found by her side.
Isadore, who made Monday’s appearance by video link, faces a count of second-degree murder in the death of his ex-girlfriend, as well as two counts of abandoning a child.
RCMP announced the charges against him Dec. 3; he’s been in custody since his arrest.
