A Fraser Valley man accused of killing a woman in a Kamloops motel room will stand trial next month without a jury.
David Albert Miller, 69, is charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death of 52-year-old Debra Novacluse, who was found beaten to death in a suite at the Super 8 Motel on Hugh Allan Drive in Aberdeen on Aug. 27, 2016.
Miller was arrested weeks later in Ontario.
At the time, police said Miller and Novacluse – who are both from Abbotsford – travelled together from Abbotsford to Kamloops prior to the murder. The two were described by investigators as acquaintances.
After years of delays due to problems with Miller retaining a lawyer, he had been slated to stand trial in front of a jury in January.
During a brief hearing in B.C. Supreme Court last Thursday, Miller changed his election to judge alone.
The trial is scheduled to begin Jan. 13 with a four-day voir dire, during which court will watch video of Miller’s statement to police.
The trial is slated to last five weeks. Miller has been in custody since his 2016 arrest.