A B.C. man accused of murdering his three young children made his first in-person court appearance since the April killings on Wednesday.
Allan Schoenborn was remanded in custody for a preliminary hearing on Jan. 12 on first-degree murder charges in the deaths of Kaitlynne, 10, Max, eight, and Cordon, five.
The children's mother found them dead in their Merritt, B.C., home on April 6.
Eight days have been set aside in a Kamloops court beginning in January for the preliminary hearing. A pre-trial conference is scheduled Nov. 20.
Crown prosecutor Sherri Mark requested the hearing take place in nearby Kamloops, rather than Merritt, due to security concerns.
Schoenborn stood inside the prisoner's box with one arm crossed for the brief appearance Wednesday.
When he heard that he would not appear in person at the November pre-trial conference he interrupted the proceeding.
"Why is that? What's this matter concerning? I think I should be there,'' he said.
Judge Steven Harrison explained to Schoenborn that he didn't need to be there because there would be no evidence presented.
"Are you content with that?'' the judge asked the accused.
"I am now,'' Schoenborn replied.
The discovery of the children's bodies sparked a 10-day manhunt for Schoenborn, who was eventually found in the bush outside Merritt suffering from dehydration and exposure.
Schoenborn also faces charges of escape from lawful custody and uttering threats, stemming from an incident at his children's school in the days prior to the murders.
