Trial begins in death of David Palmer

By Sue Tiffin


The following are updates on upcoming court proceedings.


William Savage’s first degree murder trial has begun. The trial for the Fenelon Falls man accused of killing Bowmanville resident David Palmer whose remains were discovered in Haliburton in May 2016 began Sept. 23 in Lindsay.


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.


“It’s scheduled for five weeks but it could take five days it could take 10 weeks” supervisor of court operations Teresa Jenkinson told the Echo in July. “It’s set for five weeks.” 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. At the time of the arrest OPP confirmed that Savage and Palmer were known to each other.


Norman Hart


Norman Hart of Dysart et al was due in court on Sept. 27 for a bail hearing in Lindsay. Hart was arrested and charged with second-degree murder on June 18 after Haliburton Highlands OPP were called to a house along Highland Street in Haliburton where they found the deceased body of Robert James Brown 49 of Haliburton.


Robert Ferguson


Robert Ferguson is next due in court on Oct. 17 also in Lindsay. Ferguson of Highlands East was arrested and charged with second-degree murder in the death of 29-year-old Dylan Robert Dahlke of Dysart et al on July 6.