Schoenborn makes first in-person court appearance

The man accused of murdering his three children in their Merritt home earlier this year appeared sickly Wednesday in the prisoner’s box at Kamloops provincial court.

Four court sheriffs stood watch in the second-floor courtroom as Schoenborn made his first in-person appearance since being charged with three counts of murder.

Wearing an orange jumpsuit, dark bags beneath his eyes, a gaunt Allan Dwayne Schoenborn spoke just once during the brief appearance, questioning his lawyer, Peter Wilson, about his attendance at his next scheduled court date.

Wilson was explaining that Schoenborn would not have to appear at the Nov. 20 pre-trial conference when the 40-year-old accused interrupted.

“Why is that?” the 40-year-old Schoenborn asked.

“Why is that, that I shouldn’t be there?

“What is this matter concerning?

“I think I should be there.”

Judge Stephen Harrison explained to Schoenborn that no witnesses would be called at the conference and his attendance wasn’t necessary.

Schoenborn eventually agreed.

Harrison also granted Crown prosecutor Sheri Mark’s request to have all proceedings on Schoenborn’s matters dealt with in Kamloops, rather than Merritt.

“There are security issues that we would seek to have the preliminary inquiry here in Kamloops,” she said.

The bodies of his children — Kaitlynne, 10, Max, 8, and Cordon, 5 — were discovered by their mother, Darcie Clarke, on April 6.

Schoenborn is also facing charges of uttering threats, escape from lawful custody and breach of a recognizance stemming from unrelated incidents prior to the murders.

Following Schoenborn’s November pre-trial conference, a preliminary inquiry has been scheduled to begin Jan. 12 in Kamloops. He remains in custody.