The Halifax satirical magazine Frank is scheduled to go on trial in December on a charge of contempt of court.

The charge stems from a story the magazine published relating to the murder case against Christopher Garnier, 26. He's charged with second-degree murder in the death of off-duty Truro police officer Catherine Campbell, 36.

The Crown and police allege Frank published information from Garnier's preliminary inquiry that was covered by a publication ban. The magazine disputes that claim, saying its story was published online and had gone to the printers before the ban was imposed.

A few weeks ago, Frank's managing editor Andrew Douglas entered a not guilty plea on behalf of the magazine. He said he had expected the Crown to withdraw the charge. Douglas suggested the charge was laid because Campbell was a police officer.

Trial tentatively scheduled for December

This morning in Nova Scotia provincial court in Halifax, the lawyers met to set a date for the one-day trial.

Alan Parish, the lawyer representing Frank, indicated that if the trial couldn't be done by the end of this year he wouldn't be available until May of next year. The Crown objected to the possibility of a delay that long.

Judge Gregory Lenehan found a tentative date in December to schedule the trial. The lawyers will return to court next month to confirm that the trial can proceed on Dec. 15.

Outside court, Douglas said he's continuing to write about the Garnier case and the charge against Frank.

"It is weird," Douglas said.

"I don't think I've ever done anything like that before. But as I say, you keep the editorializing out of it and just keep the facts in there."

Douglas said his next article is based on evidence disclosed to him by the Crown.