The province’s Liberal leader accusing Premier Tim Houston of dishonesty.

Zach Churchill referring to the province firing Judge Warren Zimmer, who was conducting the Lionel Desmond inquiry.

He says the public needs to know why Houston and the Attorney General made the move just weeks before a report was expected.

“This is a serious overreach, and interference in an independent judicial process. I know this is devastating to the family members, because they’ve said so publicly,” said Churchill.

Houston told reporters last week that it wasn’t clear if a report from Judge Zimmer was forthcoming, and they needed to take action.

Desmond, an Afghan war-vet, killed his wife, mother, daughter and himself 6 years ago in Upper Big Tracadie.

The inquiry began the following year.