The trial of a Collingwood man accused of killing his wife is headed toward an "anticipated resolution" next month, based on a pre-trial appearance today via Barrie court Zoom.
James Schwalm, who is accused of killing his wife, Ashley Schwalm, already waived his right to a preliminary hearing, via his lawyer Joelle Klein, in a Collingwood courtroom in April, which pushed his case into Superior Court and toward a trial.
In pre-trial on Tuesday, Justice Michelle Fuerst announced the matter would be before the Superior Court in Barrie again on June 20 for an in-person appearance and "anticipated resolution."
James Schwalm is charged with first-degree murder and indignity to a dead body.
The charges were laid last year after the body of Ashley Schwalm, 40, was discovered inside a Mitsubishi Outlander sport-utility vehicle on Jan. 26, 2023 at 5:55 a.m. The vehicle had careened down an embankment on Arrowhead Road and caught fire.
On Feb. 3, 2023, OPP announced her death was the subject of a homicide investigation and that her 38-year-old husband, James Schwalm, had been charged with second-degree murder and indignity to a dead body.
Two weeks later, police announced they had upgraded the charges to first-degree murder.
James Schwalm was a captain with Brampton Fire and Emergency Services, but was dismissed after the charges were laid.
None of the charges against James Schwalm have been proven in court.
