Six days will be set aside this year for the preliminary inquiry of Gerald Peters, who is accused of killing his common-law wife.
Deborah Anne Joseph died Oct. 20 in a home in the 600 block of East Shuswap Road.
Defence lawyer Ken Walker said Monday he expects at least 17 Crown witnesses to be called to testify at the preliminary inquiry.
Preliminary inquiries are typically set before major trials. At the end of the hearing, a provincial court judge will determine whether there is enough evidence to go to trial.
Peters remains in custody.
Police revealed little about the woman's death during a news conference in October.
Initial reports suggested Joseph was stabbed but RCMP declined to disclose details of her death.
