A date has been set for a hearing that will determine whether the government will pay for accused killer Michael Ball’s second murder trial.

Ball was in a Kitchener courtroom Friday as part of his appeal to have a decision denying him legal aid reversed.

He is charged with murder in connection with the 2013 strangling death of Erin Howlett, whose body was found stuffed in a duffle bag along the banks of the Grand River.

Ball wants to retain Paul Burstein, a prominent Toronto-based criminal lawyer, to represent him in his second trial.

Ball was found guilty of committing an indignity to a body in March, but the jury was hung on a first degree murder charge.

He remains free on bail.

Burstein will represent Ball in a Nov. 30th hearing that will determined whether the government should pay for his defense.

Ball has said he will seek to have his second trial moved outside Waterloo Region.

No date for that trial has been set.