Hearing begins for former pimp accused of murdering Calgary mother and 5-year-old daughter

A former pimp accused of murdering a five-year-old girl and her mother is one step closer totrial with his preliminary inquiry underway in Calgary.

Edward Downey is charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the July 2016 deaths ofSara Baillie, 34, and her daughter, Taliyah Marsman.

A preliminary inquiry is a hearing to determine whether there's sufficient evidence for the accused to be sent to trial.

The names of the witnesses and all of the evidence presented are protected by a publication ban.

• What we know about Edward Downey, charged in killing of Taliyah Marsman and her mother
• Edward Downey a career criminal who was violent against women, parole documents show

Baillie's body was found in the basement suite she shared with her daughter in the northwest community of Panorama Hills.

Marsman was missing from the home when police discovered her mother's body.

After a nearly week-long Amber Alert and investigation involving roughly 100 police officers, Marsman's body was discovered about eight kilometres east of Calgary by a rural road near Chestermere.Downey has a criminal history involving pimping, drug trafficking and weapons offences dating back more than 25 years.

• TIMELINE | What we know about the deaths of Taliyah Marsman and Sara Baillie

Hehas been connected to a Nova Scotia-based organized crime group involved mostly in pimping and human trafficking called North Preston's Finest.

The Parole Board of Canada twice denied Downey's request to be released from prison for other offencesin the past, citing his likelihood to commit "a violent offence" particularly against a woman if released.

Defence lawyer Gavin Wolch and Crown prosecutor Carla McPhail are running thehearing, which runs all week and then will continue for one more dayin May.

At the end of the hearing, provincial court JudgeGerry Meagherwill decide whether or not there is enough evidence to send Downey to trial on the two charges.

Downey has been in custody since his arrest.