Man charged with 2022 Legion murder alludes to 'deal' with Crown

Accused murderer Anthony Whitlock made a disgruntled appearance in court on the afternoon of Friday, Jan. 3, 2025, where he alluded to "a deal" he had been offered by the Crown and had accepted.

Whitlock appeared by video from the Quinte Detention Centre in Napanee. Justice of the Peace Ruth Campbell presided over the video appearance from her bench at the Ontario Court of Justice on Wellington Street in downtown Kingston.

A dishevelled-looking Whitlock, now 60 years old with grey hair, wore a white self-harm prevention smock and was cuffed behind his back. He grew agitated throughout the video call.

Duty counsel spoke on behalf of Whitlock’s attorney, Paolo Giancaterino, requesting an adjournment to mid-January for a "counsel resolution meeting" with the Crown.

"I understand that Mr. Giancaterino has been waiting to hear from the Crown, and would request that they respond when available,” she indicated.

“Three months waiting for the Crown,” Whitlock snapped, but no one reacted to the comment.

After some initial confusion, provincial Crown attorney Shawn Eagles determined that Holly Chiavetti is the Crown attorney assigned to Whitlock’s case and that she and Giancaterino have been finding it challenging to coordinate a meeting.

Justice of the Peace Campbell granted the adjournment and dismissed Whitlock.

“So nothing comes of this today, then?” Whitlock asked in an agitated manner.

“No," answered Campbell succinctly.

“I've been waiting three months for a phone call from the Crown, just saying. She offered me a deal, and I took it...”

“No. No.” Campbell interrupted him and cautioned, “Don't get into the details. You have a lawyer. Your lawyer is working on it."

“Barely,” said Whitlock.

“Talk to your lawyer. Thank you,” Campbell replied, cutting off the conversation.

Readers will recall that Whitlock was charged in the death of  Patrick "Paddy" Millar on Friday, Oct. 28, 2022, at Royal Canadian Legion Branch 631, located near the intersection of Bath Road and Collins Bay Road.

By Monday, Oct. 31, 2022, Kingston Police had disclosed the identities of both the deceased man, 69-year-old Patrick Millar of Kingston, and the man accused in the case, 58-year-old Anthony Whitlock of Amherstview. Police said Whitlock was charged with the second-degree murder of Millar.

On Monday, Dec. 19, 2022, Kingston Police confirmed that the charge against Whitlock had been upgraded to first-degree murder on Monday, Nov. 28, 2022. 

At a hearing over two years later, on November 29, 2024,  Whitlock’s defence team indicated they had been in pre-trial discussions with the Crown. They asked for an adjournment to late December 2024 to update the court on a resolution position, “and we're willing to waive 11(b)" --- referring to Section 11(b) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which guarantees that anyone accused of a crime has the right to be tried within a reasonable time.

When the Crown determines a resolution position, it means the Crown is considering how to resolve a criminal case without going to trial. This is done through resolution discussions, also known as Crown pre-trials, between the Crown attorney and the accused's lawyer. 

On Dec. 20, 2024, the matter was again adjourned to January 3 to allow for more coordination between the defence and Crown and to update the court on a resolution position. This latest adjournment will mean a postponement until later in January.

Kingstonist will continue to follow this case as it proceeds through the courts.