By Sue Tiffin

Published July 9 2019

A trial date for William Savage the Fenelon Falls man accused with the first-degree murder of David Palmer of Bowmanville has been tentatively set to begin Sept. 23.
The jury selection process is planned to begin that day and depending on how long jury selection takes as well as any further motions to be dealt with the trial could start the next day or within that week.
“It’s scheduled for five weeks but it could take five days it could take 10 weeks” said supervisor of court operations Teresa Jenkinson. “It’s set for five weeks.”
Savage was 47 when he was charged with first degree murder on Oct. 26 2016 in connection with the death of Palmer who was 47 at the time of his death. At the time of the arrest OPP confirmed that Savage and Palmer were known to each other.

Savage who is currently released on bail returned to court on June 26 last week for an in-person appearance.
The matter next returns to court on July 22 at 10 a.m. tentatively in Courtroom 2T at the Lindsay courthouse located at 440 Kent Street West Lindsay.
September’s trial will be held in Lindsay according to Jenkinson but the July date will be based on where the judge is at that time.
The file has so far been in Lindsay Newmarket Peterborough and Cobourg with Jenkinson noting it can go anywhere in the central east region.

Palmer was last seen on Oct. 2 2015 on video surveillance stopping at a gas station on Hwy 35 outside of Pontypool and his Honda Accord was recovered on Oct. 14 near Spruce Lake Trail in Haliburton. His remains were discovered in May 2016.