The court case for the man accused of killing one of Stratford’s swans has been postponed for a second time.
Defence counsel Gerry Burdett asked for “one further adjournment” in  Ontario Court of Justice Tuesday morning.
He said a plea from the accused is expected when the case is heard on its new day, Tuesday, Sept. 7 a 9 a.m.
Luke Van Nes, 20, of the St. Pauls area, is charged with killing an animal and two other federal offences under the Migratory Birds Convention Act. He did not appear in court Tuesday.
The lifeless body of Angela, a six-year-old female swan, was discovered May 30. An examination revealed her cause of death to be blunt force trauma. Her seven eggs also went missing, presumed to have been either destroyed or thrown in the Avon River.
The adjournment angered several members of the public who attended the court hoping for some kind of resolution.
June Kinsman, a past member of the defunct Stratford Waterfowl and Nature Society who continues to care for the city’s swans, said the court can keep putting off the case, but people aren’t going to forget what happened.
She said Angela’s mate, Nick, has not been the same since.
“(The accused) is out free, and Nick’s out there grieving each day.”
Nick is moulting and not eating well, noted Jacky Tiplady.
“We see Nicky every day, the way he’s suffering. He just doesn’t have any spirit left,” she said.
Those who attended the court on Tuesday said they’re hoping more people will attend the next court date to show their support.