A man accused of killing his wife appeared happy and relaxed as he waved to family members from the prisoner’s box.
The judge, on the other hand, was more concerned that Traigo Andretti had still not secured a defence lawyer.
“You’re accused of murder! You understand that?” asked Judge Brian Saunderson.
Andretti said he had spoken to counsel, but had not yet secured a lawyer.
The 37-year-old is accused of first degree murder in the death his wife Jennifer McPherson, 41, whose remains were found on Hanson Island earlier this month. He is also charged with committing an indignity to a human body.
The couple were caretakers at Pacific Outback Resort, located on Hanson Island, about eight kilometres northeast of Telegraph Cove.
McPherson was last seen on April 29. Following an extensive search, her remains were discovered May 6, leading to Andretti’s arrest.
He’s been held in custody since then at the Vancouver Island Regional Correction Centre in Victoria. However, at his first court appearance, by video, he requested to be in Campbell River provincial court for Monday’s bail hearing. However, with no lawyer, the bail hearing did not proceed, and the judge gave Andretti another week to secure counsel.
“Work hard at getting a lawyer. You need one badly,” stated Judge Saunderson.
Andretti, dressed in jeans and a blue striped golf shirt, appeared happy through the brief court appearance.
He’s also been investigated in Manitoba in connection with the death of a former girlfriend, Myrna Letandre, whose remains were found May 9, in a Winnipeg rooming house where they apparently lived together. She was last seen in October 2006.
Andretti’s next court appearance on June 3, will be by video.
