Harley Lawrence murder case set over until Sept. 4

Two men accused of killing a homeless man who died in a Berwick bus shelter fire last October have had their case set over until Sept. 4.

Lawyers are still working out how much timepreliminary hearings will take for Kyle David James Fredericks and Daniel Wayne Surrette, who each face a charge of first-degree murder in the death of Harley Lawrence,62.

Fredericks appeared in Kentville court Wednesday morning. Surette did not, and was instead represented by his lawyer.

Lawrence's body was found Oct. 23 in a burned-out bus shelter in Berwick, a small town in the Annapolis Valley about 120 kilometres northwest of Halifax.

Both of the accused are in their 20s and live in the Berwick area. They were charged last April.

Police have released few details about the case, including how Lawrence died. Local residents have said Lawrence began using the bus shelter for refuge as temperatures dipped last fall.

Lawrence's brother Ron Lawrence, who was in court to listen to the proceedings, said a memorial will be built across from the bus shelter to serve as a reminder of what happened so, hopefully, it never happens again.

The tentative date for the opening of the memorial is Oct. 23, which will be the first anniversary of his death.