Pier Robotti entered the courtroom in orange jail clothing with his ankles in leg-irons

After being arrested Friday, a weekend in jail, charges were read indicating he was now elevated to the same status as his sister Grace – facing a 2nd degree murder indictment.

On August 31 – a date will be fixed for a preliminary hearing with a trial most likely in the early spring of 2016.

Mr. Justice Kenneth Affleck was 90 minutes delayed in Vancouver before arriving in the BC Supreme Courtroom to grant bail to Robatti on slightly different terms – a no-contact order with his co-accused.

Earlier

Today was set for a pre-trial conference in this case but word leaked that a new charge would be laid today.

Grace Robotti, 65, is charged with the second-degree murder of Roxanne Louie and Pier Robotti, 61, is charged with interference with a dead body and accessory after the fact.

Louie, a 26-year-old member of the Osoyoos Indian Band, was reported missing in January of this year after failing to show up at Penticton Regional Airport for a flight back to Vancouver. A search ended with the discovery of her body in the Chute Lake area of Naramata.

Supporters of Louie have attended every court date for the pair and will continue to do so, according to Laurie Wilson, a spokeswoman for the family.