Brief appearance on murder charge

Robert Hilroy Legge, the man charged with murdering Ann Maria Lucas appeared briefly in court Tuesday. He'll be back in court Sept. 30.

From Sept. 22, 2003: Former boyfriend charged with murder

"Go away from me," Legge growled at reporters as he was led to a police car.

Lucas, 56, died in Stephenville on Sunday, as a result of what police call "blunt force" injuries to her head.

Legge, 64, from Flat Bay is charged with first degree murder and two counts of disobeying a court order.

Shock in community

At the Bay St. George Senior Citizens home, where Lucas worked as an licensed practical nurse, staff and residents can't believe what happened.

"I've worked with Ann personally, myself since 1983," says Catherine McDonald, vice-president of operations for Western Health care in the area. "Everyone loved to work with Ann. She loved her job. She loved the residents here at the home."

Two years ago, Legge was put under a court order to stay away from Lucas after he was convicted of assaulting her.

No recent call for help

RCMP Cpl. Joe Sheen isn't commenting on the relationship between Lucas and Legge, but he says there's nothing on record to show she had called police recently because she was concerned for her safety.

"Our records don't reflect any calls for assistance or service from her in relation to this, none whatsoever, not in the recent past," Sheen says.

The police are continuing their investigation. Divers spend part of Tuesday in the water at a bridge in Stephenville Crossing looking for evidence. They found none.