A preliminary hearing will be held in early December for a Pelican Lake First Nation man accused of second-degree murder.

Eighteen-year-old Jay Lyndon Thomas is accused of killing his cousin, 23-year-old Robi Davis, earlier this year.

The murder is said to have occurred during a graduation party.

Five days have been set aside for the hearing, which will be held in Spiritwood.

Before that hearing, a conference will be held to decide how many witnesses take the stand.

Lawyers say, potentially, 80 witnesses could be called.

Also, lawyers are waiting for an autopsy report because that could have an impact as to whether an expert in that area testifies.