Two men accused of killing an on-the-job Yellowknife taxi driver last month will be back in court in February following brief appearances earlier this week.

James Schiller, 49, and Elias Schiller, 18, both of Yellowknife, face murder charges in connection with the death of Ahmed Mahamud Ali, a City Cab driver of more than 20 years who was pronounced dead in the early hours of Nov. 19 after being found unconscious inside his taxi outside of Stanton Territorial Hospital.

Ali, whose death has prompted frustration and calls for beefed up security for the city's often vulnerable cab drivers, is being remembered by friends and former colleagues as a kind and generous man, known to cabbies as SA国际影视传媒淯ncle Ahmed.SA国际影视传媒�

The pair charged in Ali's death SA国际影视传媒� who numerous sources tell Yellowknifer are father and son SA国际影视传媒� first made court appearances late last month, where dozens of taxi drivers, from both City Cab and Aurora Taxi, packed a Yellowknife courtroom.

When James Schiller appeared via video from North Slave Correctional Complex (NSCC) in NWT territorial court on Tuesday, it was no exception. The appearance was brief but that didn't stop members of the city's cab community from coming out in another show of solidarity.

On Thursday, Elias Schiller also made a brief appearance in territorial court. This time, eight friends and family members of Elias backed the teen accused of murder in court. Some sat in the front row, showing little emotion. While friends at the back of the court gallery appeared noticeably upset.

Elias hung his head as he sat in the prisoner's booth, not looking up once to scan the gallery.

Elias is currently in the process of retaining an out of town lawyer. Tu Pham, acting as agent on the lawyer's behalf, said he expects the SA国际影视传媒渇irst wave of disclosureSA国际影视传媒� - information related to the case SA国际影视传媒� in late January.

Both accused are due back in court on Feb. 5.