Double homicide preliminary hearing begins

THUNDER BAY -- A preliminary hearing for a 2015 double homicide case began Monday in Thunder Bay.

Benjamin Ronald Marki, 41, is facing two counts of second-degree murder, one count of arson endangering life and one count of committing an indignity to a dead body.

The victims were 60-year old Wilfred Pott and 50-year old Anne Chuchmuch, who had been renting a room to Marki at the time of their deaths.

Emergency crews were initially called to a house fire on Dec. 27 at a Brant Street residence.

Three weeks later, city police announced the home was the scene of a double murder and that Marki had been taken into custody.

The preliminary hearing will determine if there's enough evidence against Marki for the case to go to trial.

Testimony is scheduled to continue until Friday.

None of the details being presented during this week's hearing can be reported, due to a publication ban.

None of the charges against Marki have been proven in court. 

(TBT News)