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Murder suspect in court

Accused triple killer Marcello Palma is to return to court March 23 to set a date for his trial.

The 33-year-old air condition and heating mechanic made a brief appearance yesterday before Mr. Justice James Watt in Ontario Court, general division.

Palma, formerly of Westdale Dr. in the former North York, is charged with three counts of first-degree murder in the shooting deaths of female prostitute Brenda Ludgate, 25, transvestite prostitute Shawn Keegan, 19, and transsexual prostitute Thomas "Deanna" Wilkinson, 31.

All three had been shot with the same gun within about three hours on May 20, 1996 investigators said at the time.

Palma, who is married with a child, was arrested in Halifax, about two weeks after the deaths.