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Man charged with murder in death of taxi driver awaits bail decision

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A Yellowknife man charged alongside his son in the death of a long time city taxi driver will learn next month whether or not he’ll be granted bail.

James Schiller, 49, is charged with second-degree murder in the November death of Ahmed Mahamud Ali.  Ali, a City Cab driver of more than 20 years, was pronounced dead in the early hours of Nov. 19 after being found unconscious inside his cab outside of Stanton Territorial Hospital.

Brendan Burke/NNSL photo. James Schiller, 49, leaves the Yellowknife Courthouse Wednesday following a bail review. Schiller,charged with second-degree murder alongside his son in the death of a city taxi driver late last year, is seeking pre-trial release. A bail decision is expected on March 20.

Elias Schiller, 18, was arrested and charged with murder the day after Ali’s body was discovered.

Yellowknife RCMP announced James Schiller had been charged with murder two days later, on Nov. 22.

Numerous sources have confirmed to Yellowknifer the two men are father and son.

The pair were initially charged with murder following Ali’s death. Those charges have since been “particularized’ by the Crown, and the two accused now each face one count of second-degree murder.

James Schiller, represented by Alberta-based lawyer Evan McIntyre, appeared in person in NWT Supreme Court Wednesday. James, who has remained in custody at North Slave Correctional Complex (NSCC) since his arrest, is seeking pre-trial release, or bail.

A court-ordered ban prevents the publication of any evidence, including submissions from defence and Crown counsel, heard during Wednesday’s bail review.

Justice Andrew Mahar, who reserved his decision, is expected to make a ruling on March 20.

Dates for a preliminary inquiry – a hearing to determine the strength of the Crown's case ahead of a trial – have been set for both James and Elias.

The pair will sit together for the same hearing beginning on May 1 in Yellowknife. Three dates in September – Sept. 25, Sept. 26 and Sept. 27 – have also been reserved for the hearing.