Yellowknife (Sep 29/03) - The preliminary hearing for former RCMP officer James Elias, charged with second-degree murder, will move to Yellowknife Sept. 30.

The first three days of the preliminary hearing were held in Tuktoyaktuk Sept. 24 to 26. Additional witnesses will testify at the Yellowknife courthouse before a decision is made to go ahead with a trial, said Sgt. Joe Laughlin of the Tuktoyaktuk RCMP.

Elias, 39, faces a charge of second-degree murder in the shooting death of his younger brother, 24-year-old Brian Elias, last February. He also faces an attempted murder charge for the shooting of Samuel Gruben Jr.

Both incidents happened in Tuktoyaktuk.

Elias remained in custody until June when he made the $10,000 bail.

He has been living with his sister and her spouse in Forth Smith since then.