Preliminary hearing begins for man accused in Orillia murder case

Brian Lancaster sat in the prisoner’s box inside a Barrie courtroom on Thursday for the start of his preliminary hearing - the details of which are protected by a publication ban.

Lancaster, now 37, is accused of killing Kyle Farrows, 25, outside Farrows’ Orillia apartment on December 14 last year.

Police charged Lancaster, along with now 19-year-old Mackenzie Harrod, with second-degree murder in Farrows’ death.

Harrod’s case remains before the courts. She was granted bail in April under strict conditions, according to her lawyer, Jeffrey Fisher.

Those in the area told CTV News Farrows was stabbed several times in the alleyway outside his Andrew Street South apartment; however, police have not confirmed how he died.

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Lancaster has a lengthy criminal record, which includes convictions for assault and arson.

In 2015, he was found guilty of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl in her bedroom during a home invasion.

According to the Parole Board of Canada, Lancaster was handed a five-year sentence and granted day parole in 2019 followed by full parole in 2021.

It remains unclear whether Farrows knew those accused of causing his death.

In April, Orillia resident Sarah Spooner described Farrows as a really nice guy. “[He] didn’t seem like he had enemies or anything,” she said.

Lancaster has been behind bars since being arrested a few days after Farrows died.

Lancaster’s three-day preliminary hearing continues on Friday and picks up again later this month. The allegations against the accused have not been tested in court.