Accused teen killer Dylan Pountney makes first court appearance

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He wore orange and black coveralls and a surgical mask, and peered into the camera in the cell at the Edmonton Remand Centre. He addressed the judge as “sir” and “your honour.” After a few minutes he was ushered out by correctional officers.

Dylan Pountney, the man accused of stabbing 17-year-old Jennifer Winkler to death at Christ the King Catholic High School on Monday morning, made a brief first appearance in Leduc provincial court Thursday.

The 19-year-old is accused of stabbing Winkler just before 10 a.m. Monday, triggering a lockdown and a manhunt as police with dogs and helicopters combed Leduc for the suspect. Winkler was airlifted to hospital in Edmonton, where she was pronounced dead.

Several members of Winkler’s family, including her sister, sat in the court gallery Thursday. Police have said Winkler and Pountney knew one another but the exact relationship has not been clarified.

Pountney was represented at the brief hearing by a court-appointed lawyer. The Crown prosecutor handling the case is Drew Gillespie. Provincial court judge Jeffrey Champion presided.

Gillespie noted the investigation is still ongoing, and sought a publication ban on the identities of at least 11 witnesses.

The case was set over until April 1 to allow time for Pountney to get a lawyer.

jwakefield@postmedia.com

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