Man accused in beating death of gay rights activist still has no lawyer

Andre Noel Denny arrives at Nova Scotia Provincial court to be arraigned on charges steaming from the beating death of gay activist Raymond Taavel Halifax, N.S., on April 18, 2012.(Mike Dembeck / THE CANADIAN PRES)

HALIFAX -- The case of a man accused in a fatal beating outside a Halifax bar has been set over to Oct. 30.

Andre Noel Denny, 35, is charged with second-degree murder in the April 2012 death of 49-year-old Raymond Taavel.

Denny was expected to stand trial in Nova Scotia Supreme Court last month, but it was delayed when the Membertou man fired his lawyer.

On Thursday, court heard that Denny is still looking for a lawyer.

"I'm getting concerned about the delay," said Judge John Murphy.

Crown attorney James Giacomantonio suggested that with the court calendar already filling up next year, Denny's eight-week trial might have to wait until some time in 2016.

"At some point, we have to move this matter forward," he told the court.

Taavel, a well-known gay rights activist in Halifax, died outside Menz bar on Gottingen Street following an altercation.