Man facing murder charge after Esgenopetitjshooting appears in court

A Maine man arrested after a manhunt in northeast New Brunswick last week made a court appearance Wednesday, where the case was delayed a month.

Keith Maurice Martin, 47, faces a single charge of second-degree murder.

It's alleged he killed Mark Mitchell on Sept. 5 inEsgenopetitj First Nation, a community also known as Burnt Church about 37 kilometres from Miramichi.

Martin appeared by video in Miramichi provincial court,where defence lawyer Alex Pate asked for a delay.Pate said they're still awaiting disclosure of the Crown's evidence in the case.

Judge Johanne-Marguerite Landry set Martin's next appearance forOct. 8.

Crown prosecutor Jean-Guy Savoie repeatedly emphasized in court that Martin has been ordered to not communicate with anyone on a list of 11 people.

Martin, who appeared to have a bandage on his forehead, said little during the appearance beyond confirming he understood the no-contact order and the charge he faces.

Pate declined to comment while leaving the courthouse.

Several people were present in the public gallery during Martin's appearance but declined to speak to reporters after it ended.

RCMP previously said officers from theNeguac RCMPresponded to a report around 1:45p.m. on Thursdayfrom a person who had been shot inEsgenopetitj.

At the scene, police found a 48-year-old man dead and another man injured. The injured man was taken to hospital with what police described as non-life-threatening injuries.Martin has not been charged with anything beyond second-degree murder.

RCMP issued an emergency alert and askedEsgenopetitj residents to remain indoors as police searched for Martin.He was arrested in the Esgenopetitj area on Friday, just over 24 hours after police were initially called.