Family members and friends of Victoria Head packed provincial courtroom No. 5 in St. John’s Thursday morning as the case against Steve Bragg, the man accused of murdering her, was called.
Their frustration was audible when Brittany Whalen, one of Bragg’s lawyers, told the court her client wouldn’t appear on video from the penitentiary, since she was designated to represent him instead.
Less than five minutes later, Head’s loved ones poured out of the courtroom, set to return when Bragg’s case is called again Jan. 31. Crown and defence lawyers told Judge James Walsh they are still receiving disclosure in the case and expect to have it all by that time.
Related stories:
Victoria Head ‘was such a good-hearted person,’ sister says
Victoria Head’s murder reflects growing problem of violence against women, advocates say
Bragg’s case had been called in court once before: Dec. 23, the day after he was arrested outside his home and charged with second-degree murder in the death of Head, who is said to have been a longtime acquaintance. At that time, Bragg, 35, came into the courtroom in handcuffs and shackles, escorted from the lockup by sheriff’s officers.
Head’s family members were there at that time, too.
“I hope you see her face every time you blink, you piece of s---,” Head’s sister-in-law yelled at Bragg afterward.
Head, 36 and a mother of one, was a native of Placentia who was living in St. John’s at the time of her murder. Her body was found near the O’Brien’s Farm property on Mount Scio Road.
Police have not revealed how she was killed.
Head was the third woman in the province murdered within six months; the others were Cortney Lake, 24, of Mount Pearl, who was killed in June, and Ryanna Grywacheski, 18, of Marystown, who was killed Sept. 16.
Twitter: Tara_bradbury
