Trent Spencer Butt remained in hospital at the Health Sciences Centre Tuesday, where two lawyers representing the Crown and defence were set to appear with provincial court judge David Orr presiding. The 37-year-old’s case has been set over to May 11.
Butt was charged two days after a fire destroyed his home on Hayden Heights in Carbonear. When firefighters arrived, the body of Butt’s five-year-old daughter was found inside the house.
The man sustained serious injuries, but Harbour Grace RCMP announced earlier today it’s expected he will survive. Butt is also charged with arson.
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(Earlier story)
The Compass has learned the identity of the Carbonear man charged with first-degree murder of his five-year-old daughter.
Court documents identify the man as 37-year-old Trent Spencer Butt of Carbonear.
In a previous release, the RCMP indicated they will not be releasing the name of the father or the daughter.
While the RCMP does not have the results of the girl's autopsy, the investigation yielded enough evidence to proceed with charging the father.
"We found there was enough evidence to support the charge of first-degree (murder)," said Staff Sgt. Howard Gale.
Butt is not expected to physically appear in court this afternoon. Instead, court officials will visit him in hospital in St. John's at 2:30 p.m. where they'll make the charges official.
The Telegram has learned prosecutor Phil LeFeuvre will be there representing the Crown while Jason Edwards will be there representing Butt.
Judge David Orr will preside over the proceedings.
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(Earlier story)
Harbour Grace RCMP are laying first-degree murder charges against the father of a five-year-old girl who was found dead in a Carbonear house fire on Sunday.
In a release Tuesday morning, Staff Sgt. Howard Gale indicated police had arrested the 37-year-old man and charged him with first-degree murder of the five-year-old girl found at the scene of the fire on Hayden Heights.
He’s also been charged with arson and is expected to make a court appearance later today.
Police say he remains in serious medical condition but is expected to survive.
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Firefighters were called to the home early Sunday morning when a neighbour noticed flames billowing out of the house.
The RCMP have indicated they will not be releasing the name of the girl or the father.
Another update is expected once the accused has made his court appearance.
