The man accused of killing off-duty Truro police officer Catherine Campbell will face a preliminary inquiry in July.

The lawyer for Christopher Calvin Garnier, 28, appeared in Halifax provincial court this morning to confirm dates for the hearing.

Garnier himself did not appear. He's been in custody since his arrest. Members of Campbell's family were in court for the brief appearance.

Garnier is charged with second-degree murder and interfering with a dead body after Campbell's remains were found dumped near the Macdonald Bridge in Halifax last September.

Catherine Campbell served as a Truro Police Service constable for six years. (Jeff Babineau/Facebook)

Court documents obtained by CBC show Garnier allegedly told police he punched and strangled Campbell at an apartment on McCully Street. Police allege Garnier then put Campbell's body in a green bin and wheeled it through the streets to the Macdonald Bridge.

Didn't show for work

Four days have been set aside for Garnier's preliminary, with additional dates in September if necessary. Lawyer Joel Pink told court he expected to have a list of proposed witnesses finalized in the next few days.

Campbell, 36, was first discovered missing after she failed to show for work in Truro on Sept. 14. Halifax police say they arrived at her apartment on Windmill Road in Dartmouth to find the TV on, her alarm clock ringing and two cats with empty food and water dishes, court documents say.

Police learned that Campbell left her apartment at about 1 a.m. on Sept. 11 in a taxi to go to the Alehouse in downtown Halifax after a stressful week, documents say.

She met Garnier at the bar where they kissed and talked, documents say. Police do not say if they found a prior connection between the two or if they believe they met for the first time at the bar.