Cape Breton man charged with first-degree murder granted bail

A Cape Breton man facing a first-degree murder charge was granted bail on Tuesday.

It was an emotionally charged day at the Sydney Justice Centre on Tuesday as a 49-year-old man charged with murder in a high-profile case was granted bail.

A capacity crowd filled the courtroom as Chris Neville appeared before the court seeking bail on a charge of first-degree murder in connection with the shooting death of 44-year-old Jeffrey Pearson.

Pearson was found dead in a home on Shore Road in Whitney Pier, N.S., in the early hours of Feb. 22.

A short time later, three men from out of province – 27-year-old Mal Chol, 19-year-old Letjor Geng and 20-year-old Goaner Mark Tut – were arrested a short distance away and charged with first-degree murder.

On July 31, Neville was arrested in Halifax on the same charge.

On Tuesday, in front of a courtroom that included the victim’s family members and friends, Neville was granted bail after he and three sureties put up $630,000.

It’s a bail amount the Crown called one of the largest ever seen in Nova Scotia, though they added it comes with a long list of conditions.

“It’s strict house arrest,” said Crown attorney Peter Dostal.

“He is to stay in his house 24/7. There are security cameras around the house, at entries and exits that are accessible to police. He has a GPS monitor that monitors every few seconds as to his exact location. That location is accessible to police. His communications on social media are prohibited.”

He is also banned from airports, heliports and ferry terminals, and is required to turn in his passport.

An angry crowd voiced their displeasure outside the courtroom and at least one person was kicked out of the courtroom shortly after the bail was granted.

Neville is due to return to court for a preliminary hearing on Oct. 28.

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