A man who was facing a first-degree murder charge in connection with the death of a Red Deer man in 2008 has died.
Blair Andrew Neill, 43, of Red Deer had been in hospital for more than a year fighting a flesh-eating disease. Lawyers acting on Neill’s behalf have been regularly getting his case adjourned because of his illness.
Last month, the case was adjourned until Monday.
Crown prosecutor Jason Snider confirmed in Court of Queen’s Bench that Neill had since died.
Neill was charged in the death of Nathan Casey, 27, of Red Deer. Casey died on Aug. 26, 2008, following an altercation in Red Deer near 47th Avenue and 54th Street. He was found stabbed inside a parked vehicle. Casey had only recently moved to the city from the Maritimes.
Neill was also injured with a stab wound at the time.