The man charged with the first-degree murder of Jennifer Hillier-Penney made his third appearance in Corner Brook provincial court this morning.

Fifty-year-old Dean Penney was scheduled to appear this past Friday but all matters were postponed due to poor weather.

He remains in custody and appeared in person again today with his lawyer, Rosellen Sullivan, appearing by phone.

She told Judge Wayne Gorman she has yet to receive any disclosure evidence from the Crown, and proposed postponing the case until January 2nd for an update.

But Crown prosecutor Brenda Duffy said it’s unlikely any of that evidence will reach Sullivan before that date, since it has to be sent by mail or courier.

With that. Gorman suggested a “more reasonable” date further down the road when the defence should have at least some of the information from the Crown.

The case is now due back in Corner Brook provincial court on January 12th.

Penney has been in custody since his arrest on December 15 in the Deer Lake area.

Hillier-Penney, his estranged wife, was last seen just over seven years ago at his St. Anthony home, on November 30, 2016.

There has been no sign of her since.