The first degree murder trial of Stephan Dietrich inched closer to happening Monday with an appearance in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice.
Dietrich was accused of killing his wife, Mimi 'Seble' Dietrich in 2015.
Mimi Dietrich went missing in early July of 2014. Rumours circulated that she had perhaps returned to Ethiopia and was doing charitable work. Her abandoned car was found in Downtown Guelph, near a location she used to run a second-floor coffee shop on Wyndham Street.
Eleven months later her remains were located on the family's Vancouver Drive property shortly after her husband was charged with her murder.
Dietrich, wearing blue jeans and a short-sleeved shirt buttoned down the front, his hair pulled back into a long pony tail and sporting a goatee, made a brief appearance in front of Justice Nancy Mossip.
Roughly 20 members of the Guelph and Kitchener Ethiopian and Eritrean communities were on hand in the court room, as they have been for each of Dietrich's court appearances thus far.
Dietrich's lawyer, Toronto attorney Gregory Leslie, did not appear in court although he was expected.
The preliminary trial in the case was held last month and a judicial pre-trial hearing is now set for May 11 at 11 a.m.
Dietrich had the assistance of a German interpreter at the preliminary trial, but said he did not need one for his May appearance.
The judicial pre-trial, which is not open to the public, is a tool used to narrow down and address any legal issues or concerns prior to trial. In essence it is intended to help focus and expedite the proceedings.
The prosecutor in the case is London-based Crown attorney Elizabeth Maguire. She will be assisted by Stephanie Turner from the Guelph Crown's office.
