Trial starts Wednesday in Saskatoon for man accused of murder

A trial for a man charged in two separate incidents including assault with a weapon and murder in the death of 27-year-old Preston Thomas is scheduled to start in Saskatoon Provincial Court Wednesday.

Joel Yuzicapi, 28, is charged with assault with a weapon and break and enter in one incident. In another incident, he is charged with second-degree murder in Thomas' death.

Saskatoon Police found Thomas’ body in a hotel on Airport Drive in Saskatoon on Aug. 1, 2020. They say the victim and the accused were known to each other. Yuzicapi was arrested at a house on the 200 block of Avenue S South in Saskatoon in August 2020.

Thomas’ mother Lillian Thomas made a rose to honour her son and takes it with her to Yuzicapi’s scheduled court appearances.

Thomas was Saskatoon’s eighth homicide victim in 2020.

A preliminary hearing was held last week. The hearing was delayed previously due to the COVID-19 pandemic. After the hearing was over the court found there was enough evidence for Yucicapi to stand trial on a second-degree murder charge. On July 14 the murder charge was sent to Saskatoon Court of Queen's Bench with the remaining charges proceeding at a trial in Saskatoon Provincial Court. 

The charges against Yuzicapi haven't been proven in court. 

Updated Wednesday 9:30 a.m.