In this artist's sketch, alleged serial killer Bruce McArthur makes an appearance via video in a Toronto courtroom on April 11, 2018.Alexandra Newbould/The Canadian Press
Alleged serial killer Bruce McArthur had his case put over until May 23 after a brief court appearance in Toronto on Wednesday.
Mr. McArthur, a 66-year-old self-employed landscaper, faces eight counts of first-degree murder in connection with the disappearances of several men, most of whom had ties to Toronto’s gay village.
Crown attorney Michael Cantlon told the court his office would have more evidence to turn over to the defence before the next court appearance.
Police have found the dismembered remains of at least seven people in large planters at the home of one of Mr. McArthur’s clients.
Mr. McArthur, appearing in court by video from a Toronto jail, was unshaven and dressed in an orange jumpsuit, his white hair cropped close to his head.
He said his name for the court and thanked the justice of the peace at the end of proceedings.
Mr. McArthur was arrested in January and charged with the murders of Andrew Kinsman and Selim Esen, who went missing from Toronto’s gay village in 2017.
Later that month, he was charged with the first-degree murder of Majeed Kayhan, Soroush Mahmudi, and Dean Lisowick. In February, he was also charged in the death of Skandaraj Navaratnam.
In April police charged Mr. McArthur in the death of Abdulbasir Faizi, who was reported missing in 2010, and days later charged Mr. McArthur in the death of Kirushna Kumar Kanagaratnam, who came to Canada from Sri Lanka and was not reported missing.