Preliminary inquiry for murder suspect Dean Penney starts in Corner Brook

Dean Penney, left, was back in court in Corner Brook on Monday to begin a preliminary inquiry. Penney is accused of murdering his estranged wife Jennifer Hillier-Penney.  (Colleen Connors/CBC - image credit)
Dean Penney, left, was back in court in Corner Brook on Monday to begin a preliminary inquiry. Penney is accused of murdering his estranged wife Jennifer Hillier-Penney. (Colleen Connors/CBC - image credit)
Dean Penney, left, was back in court in Corner Brook on Monday to begin a preliminary inquiry. Penney is accused of murdering his estranged wife Jennifer Hillier-Penney.
Dean Penney, left, was back in court in Corner Brook on Monday to begin a preliminary inquiry. Penney is accused of murdering his estranged wife Jennifer Hillier-Penney.

Dean Penney, left, was back in court in Corner Brook on Monday to begin a preliminary inquiry. Penney is accused of murdering his estranged wife, Jennifer Hillier-Penney. (Colleen Connors/CBC)

Dean Penney, accused of murder in the first degree, was back in court in Corner Brook Monday morning.

It marked the beginning of his preliminary inquiry — a hearing used in serious criminal cases to determine whether the evidence assembled by the Crown is sufficient to proceed with a trial.

Penney is accused of murdering his estranged wife, Jennifer Hillier-Penney.

She was first reported missing in November 2016 and police later deemed her disappearance suspicious.

Last December, police arrested Penney and charged him with first-degree murder.

There is a publication ban in place, which prevents the media from revealing any details or identifying any witnesses during the preliminary inquiry.

The inquiry is expected to take two weeks.

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