Preliminary hearing begins for NDG man accused of killing girlfriend

A preliminary hearing is underway for a man accused of murdering his girlfriend more than two years ago in NDG.

Michael Gero was 23 when he was arrested and charged with killing 19-year-old Sherri Thomas.

In 2013 the couple was living together in what Thomas's family describes as an abusive relationship.

On Nov. 19 2013, Thomas was rushed to hospital after being found unconscious. An autopsy determined she had been beaten and then shot in the head.

Gero was arrested on the spot and charged with second-degree murder that week, but the case has been subject to multiple delays.

He sat stern-faced in court as he listened to the prosecution present evidence about the case Thursday.

Evidence presented at the preliminary hearing is subject to a publication ban, but based on what is presented a judge will decide if Gero will stand trial for second-degree murder.

Thomas's family was present in court Thursday for the first of what is expected to be three days of hearings.

Her mother and father, Maria Sorgente and Ruskins Thomas, said they are very frustrated by the delays in waiting for justice.

"You can't just go to bed and forget about one of your daughters, you know. It's not easy," said Sorgente.

Her family said they often saw Thomas with bruises, and she had a scar on her chin when she arrived at her grandmother's funeral.

They said they tried to get her to leave Gero, but she wouldn't go because she loved him.

"It's a shame," said her father. "When I think of her sometimes I get very angry, very angry that her life was taken from her."