Jonathan Eugene Rowe has agreed to stand trial on a charge of being an accessory to murder, even before his preliminary inquiry into the charge ended in provincial court in St. John’s.
On Day 2 of the inquiry, Rowe’s lawyer, Ray Kuszelewski, filed an application to allow Rowe to consent to send the case to trial. Judge David Orr agreed.
Outside court, Kuszelewski told reporters that Rowe, who is accused of helping suspected murderer Philip Pynn by driving him the day after the murder, wants to take the case before a judge or jury to let them determine whether or not what Rowe did is actually being an accessory to murder.
He's scheduled to be arraigned in Newfoundland Supreme Court on Dec. 3.
Rowe, 29, was arrested and charged in April for his alleged involvement in the events surrounding the death of Nick Winsor, who was shot and killed at a house on Portugal Cove Road in the capital city on July 9, 2011.
Two others — Philip Wayne Pynn, 26, and Lyndon Malcolm Butler, 22 — are jointly charged with murder in Winsor’s death.
Following a preliminary inquiry that wrapped up in August, they were committed to stand trial on a slew of charges, including second-degree murder and attempted murder.
Pynn, who is in custody, and Butler, who was released from jail following a recent bail review, also face a charge of attempted murder, attempted robbery, possessing a handgun, assault with a weapon and possessing a weapon while prohibited.
As well, Pynn faces counts of pointing a firearm, breaching probation and breaching conditions of two undertakings.
A trial date is expected to be set at a later date.
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