Kenneth Ferguson’s lawyer has agreed that his client should go to trial for the first-degree murder of his wife.

Tony Bryant made the concession Monday at Ferguson’s preliminary hearing in Kitchener’s Ontario Court. The hearing is held to determine if there is enough evidence for an accused person to be committed to trial.

It also gives the defence a chance to see the Crown’s case and challenge witnesses.

In a surprise move, the Crown and defence agreed to drop 13 civilian witnesses from the hearing. That leaves only one more witness, who was expected to testify Tuesday.

The hearing will end after that, either Tuesday afternoon or Wednesday. But Monday’s events mean the case will go to trial in Superior Court — it’s a matter of setting a date.

Ferguson is charged with the fatal strangling of his wife, Valerie Ferguson, 44. The devout Christian and mother of two young children was found dead at her Elmira home on April 3, 2008, the same day she’d wished her young son a happy birthday.