NORWICH – Accused murderer Daniel Brown was set to appear in City of Norwich Court for his preliminary hearing, at which the judge will decide if there is enough evidence to force the defendant to stand trial for 2nd degree murder. The hearing was scheduled to begin at 10 a.m.

Brown, 45, of 56 Henry St., has been arrested for 2nd degree murder, a Class A-1 felony, for allegedly causing the death of his apartment manager, Tammy L. Periard, 45 of 167 East Main St. Periard was reported missing last Tuesday by family members; police discovered her body in Brown’s apartment building after an intensive search early Thursday morning.

The Norwich City Police Department released a preliminary medical report on Periard’s death Friday. The findings of the report said the cause of death was asphyxiation by ligature strangulation. Periard also suffered blunt trauma injuries to the head. Police said they believed that she was attacked with a stick-like weapon.