Man accused of murdering boy appears in court

A 33-year-old Saskatchewan man will remain in custody on a charge of second-degree murder in the death of a toddler.

Shane Pashke of Garrick, northeast of Prince Albert, made his first appearance in a Melfort court Monday morning.

The case dates back to December 2012, when police and paramedics were called to a home just outside of Garrick, where three-year-old Roudy Bourque was in medical distress. The young boy died later in hospital.

The coroner determined that he died of blunt force trauma to the head. RCMP say it took them a year to gather the evidence to make an arrest.

Paschke is scheduled to return to court Jan. 16.