Steven MIchael Bacon was charged with first degree murder in the death of Nanaimo teenager Makayla Chang in September 2020. (File Photos)
MURDER

Three week trial scheduled for man accused of killing Nanaimo teenager

Mar 21, 2022 | 2:07 PM

NANAIMO — Dates are set for the first degree murder trial of Steven Michael Bacon.

Bacon is accused of killing Nanaimo teenager Makayla Chang in 2017, a charge he has previously pleaded not guilty to.

During a hearing in Nanaimo on Monday, March 21, B.C. Supreme Court Justice Douglas Thompson confirmed lawyers for both sides will return to court for a three week trial, beginning Nov. 28 and running through Dec. 16.

Bacon was formally charged with first degree murder by Nanaimo RCMP in Sept. 2020 after having already been in custody for nine months.

Police in Fredericton, NB arrested Bacon in January 2020 on an unrelated charge.

Prior to the arrests, Bacon was never officially labelled a suspect by officers but was considered a person of interest in Chang’s disappearance and death.

He was flown out to Nanaimo in early November 2021 ahead of a scheduled week-long inquiry to determine whether there was enough evidence to proceed to trial.

The inquiry lasted only a few hours before a trial was confirmed. All details from the inquiry fell under a publication ban.

Chang was reported missing in March 2017 and her body was found about two months later at an undisclosed location.

Nanaimo RCMP previously said Chang was often spotted at Bacon’s south Nanaimo home.

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