HALIFAX -- The case of a man charged with second-degree murder in the beating death of a prominent activist in Halifax's gay community has been rescheduled.
Nova Scotia's Public Prosecution Service says Andre Noel Denny will appear in Halifax provincial court on Sept. 20 with his new lawyer, Don Murray.
Public Prosecution Service spokeswoman Chris Hansen says the case of the 33-year-old Denny, who is charged in the death of Raymond Taavel, was rescheduled last week.
During a court appearance in June, both the Crown and defence agreed on an extension of a psychiatric assessment of Denny, who was diagnosed with schizophrenia as a teenager.
The extension was granted because Toronto-based psychiatrist Hy Bloom needed more time to go over Denny's medical records.
Hansen says Denny's assessment is not complete, but anticipates it will be for the September court date.
Denny was released by the East Coast Forensic Hospital on a one-hour pass on April 16.
The body of the 49-year-old Taavel was found hours later outside a downtown bar.
The provincial government is reviewing the circumstances around Denny's release from the hospital.
