Preliminary inquiry in Lunenburg County murder case set for summer

A preliminary inquiry will be held this summer for a Lunenburg County man charged with first-degree murder.

Arthur Abdul Mosher, 40, of Blockhouse is accused of killing Josh Evan Veinotte, 49, whose remains were found in Parkdale, Lunenburg County, on July 26, 2023.

Mosher, who has been in custody since late August, appeared in Bridgewater provincial court recently for the purpose of setting dates for the inquiry.

Defence lawyers Mark Bailey and Lauran Haas represented Mosher, while Rick Hartlen was there for the Crown.

Judge Catherine Benton scheduled the hearing for four days: July 29, July 30, Aug. 1 and Aug. 6.

A preliminary inquiry determines whether there is sufficient evidence for an accused to proceed to trial in Nova Scotia Supreme Court. It also allows the defence to test the strength of the Crown’s case.

RCMP announced Aug. 24 that the remains found in Parkdale, near New Ross, were those of a man, that an autopsy had determined the death was a homicide and that Mosher was wanted on a provincewide warrant for second-degree murder.

Mosher was apprehended later that day without incident in Gold River, Lunenburg County.

By the time Mosher was arraigned in provincial court the next day, the charge had been upgraded to first-degree murder. That means investigators believe the killing was planned and deliberate.

According to court douments, RCMP allege Veinotte was murdered in Blockhouse sometime between July 22 and 26. The cause of death has not been disclosed.

Veinotte, of Chelsea, Lunenburg County, was survived by two sons.

If Mosher wants bail, he will have to make an application in Supreme Court.