Accused in crossbow killings appears in court alone save for his lawyer

The man charged in the triple homicide of his mother and two brothers showed up in court this morning by video link, with no apparent friends or family in the Scarboroughcourtroom to support him.

• Accused in crossbow killings robbed banks after racking up debt in romantic relationships

Brett Anthony Ryan, 35, faces three counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of his mother, Susan Ryan, and two of his brothers, Christopher Ryan, 42, and Alexander Ryan, 29.

He appeared on a television screen in court wearing an orange jumpsuit as his lawyer, GJ Partington, set a date for the defence to receivethe Crown's evidence before deciding whether to move forward with a trial. The prosecution must disclose the information it has so far at the next hearing on Sept. 23.

Police arrested Ryan on Aug. 26at his mother's house at 10 Lawndale Rd. Susan Ryan would be found dead of strangulation, while her two sons were killed by a crossbow bolt or arrowhead, autopsy results revealed this week.

In 2009, Ryanserved about 15 months in jail after he pleaded guiltyto 16 combined counts of robbery and disguise with intent for holding up14 banks across the Greater Toronto Area beginning in 2007. He was sentenced to three years and nine months in jail, but was released on day parole in May 2010.

He received full parole in November 2010.