A man accused of a murder and attempted murder in Hopedale on Friday appeared virtually in a courtroom today far from where the crimes occurred.

The courts put technology to good use to accommodate the appearance of Michael Tuglavina.

The 27-year-old Hopedale man has been in an RCMP jail cell since his arrest Friday following an attack that left one man dead and another fighting for his life.

Their names have not been released, but police say they all knew each other.

The mayhem triggered a brief shelter-in-place alert before police found and arrested Tuglavina, formally charging him Saturday with first-degree murder and attempted murder.

He appeared in Wabush provincial court today via Zoom from the RCMP detachment in Hopedale, more than 500 kms away, while the busy Legal Aid lawyer tapped to defend him appeared from St. John’s.

Among other matters, Mark Gruchy already represents a man accused of murder at the Waterford Hospital, and Tony Humby in a complicated sexual violence case currently bogged down in pre-trial applications.

Gruchy told Judge Wynne Anne Trahey he only learned today he will be assigned to defend Tuglavina, saying he’ll need some time to put together a plan for bail.

Crown attorney Brandon Gillespie, meanwhile, forwarded more disclosure evidence, as well as an updated list of more than a dozen people Tuglavina can have no contact with, to Gruchy.

With that, the case was adjourned until May 27 when Gruchy is expected to confirm his role as defence counsel while court is on circuit in Port Hope Simpson.

In the meantime, both the Crown and defence agreed Tuglavina will remain in custody at least until then.

Prior to Friday, he was already on the Wabush docket facing 12 charges, including six breaches of court orders, two counts each of resisting or obstructing police and uttering threats, assault and assault causing bodily harm.

His next court date on those charges is June 17th.