Two northerners charged with first-degree murder of Killarney man remain in jail following first court appearance

Sudbury woman's murder charge dropped by Crown The first-degree murder charge has been dropped against the estranged wife of a man shot to death by his brother near Killarney in 2020.

Sudbury — Two northern Ontario people charged in October with murdering 56-year-old Brant Burke, of Killarney, remain in the Sudbury jail following their first court hearings Tuesday morning.

In moves that shocked the Sudbury District, Burke's 39-year-old estranged wife, Melissa Sheridan, and his 58-year-old brother, Kerry, were both charged with first-degree murder late last month in connection to Brant's death.

The two matters appeared before the Ontario Court of Justice Bail Court in Gore Bay via video conferencing Tuesday morning and are being heard separately as they are not listed as "co-accused."

Sheridan appeared through video remand from Sudbury Jail and had no lawyer present. Her matter involving the first-degree murder charge has been adjourned to Dec. 22 in Sudbury court via video remand. It is unclear if representation for Sheridan has been confirmed yet.

Sudbury criminal lawyers Glenn Sandberg and Dimitri Trofimoff are representing Kerry Burke, who did not appear on video before the judge. His matter concerning his first-degree murder charge has been adjourned until Jan. 7, also through video.

Ontario Provincial Police were called to Point Grondine Reserve, off of Highway 637, on Oct. 25 when Burke was found dead on a trail located within the Wiikwemkoong First Nation territory.

"A joint forces investigation was conducted by Wikwemikong Tribal Police, with the assistance of the Nipissing West OPP Crime Unit, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, the OPP Forensic Identification Service under the direction of the OPP Criminal Investigation Branch," OPP said in a news release.

A post-mortem examination was conducted in Sudbury and the cause of death was confirmed to be as a result of a firearm-related injury.

Kerry Burke, of Killarney, was charged Nov. 24, while Sheridan, of Sudbury, was charged Nov. 25.

The investigation is continuing.

None of the allegations has been proven in court.

CTV News will have an update on this developing story as new information becomes available.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to call police or Crime Stoppers.