James Schiller, a Yellowknife man charged with murder alongside his son in the death of an on-duty taxi driver, has been granted bail.
NWT Supreme Court Justice Andrew Mahar ordered the pre-trial release of Schiller on Wednesday.
A court-ordered ban prevents the publication of any evidence and information spoken to during the hearing, along with Mahar's reasons for granting Schiller's release.
James Schiller had been in custody at North Slave Correctional Complex (NSCC) since his arrest on Nov. 22.
Schiller, 49, is charged with second-degree murder in the death of Ahmed Mahamud Ali, a City Cab driver of more than 20 years. Ali was pronounced dead in the early hours of Nov. 19 after being found unconscious inside his cab outside of Stanton Territorial Hospital.
James Schiller's son, 18-year-old Elias Schiller, also faces a second-degree murder charge in connection with Ali's death.
James Schiller must obey court-ordered conditions while on bail.
He will be back in court on May 1, when his preliminary inquiry is set to begin in Yellowknife.
Preliminary hearings are used to determine the strength of the Crown's case before going to trial.
Elias Schiller will sit alongside his father at the same hearing. Three dates in September – Sept. 25, Sept. 26 and Sept. 27 – have been reserved for the continuation of the hearing if necessary.
Elias Schiller, arrested and charged two days before his father, remains in custody at NSCC.
The death of Ali sparked anger and frustration from cab drivers in the city, many of whom have routinely attended court proceedings since November, and led to new safety measures being implemented in City Cab vehicles.