Daniel Martell assault hearing rescheduled to July 7

In Pictou, Nova Scotia, a court hearing for Daniel Martell, the stepfather of two children missing for nearly a year, was rescheduled to July 7, delaying his opportunity to enter an election and plea on charges of assault, sexual assault, and unlawful confinement.

Crown attorney Bill Gorman explained during the brief appearance that the postponement was required to provide additional disclosure to the defense. Martell, who was not present in provincial court, faces the charges stemming from an incident involving an adult victim whose identity is protected by a publication ban.

The case has drawn attention due to Martell's connection to four-year-old Jack Sullivan and his six-year-old sister, Lilly, who vanished from their home in Lansdowne Station, about 140 kilometres north of Halifax, in May 2025. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police have stated there is no evidence of foul play or any criminal offence related to the children's disappearance.

Search efforts in the rural area surrounding the family home have yielded limited leads. Investigators found a few boot prints and a piece of blanket confirmed to belong to Lilly, but no other significant clues have emerged despite extensive...