A drifter accused of killing a younger man in the Malton area of Mississauga spent early Christmas Day in a cell, preparing for a judge to arraign him on a charge of first-degree murder.

Peel Regional Police homicide investigators said they expert further arrests in the fatal knifing around 2:20 a.m. on Dec. 20 of Richard "Richie" Egan Stewart, 38, of Mississauga, at a Brandon Gate Dr.-Darcel Ave. plaza.

Stewart, 38, was pronounced dead later that Sunday at a local hospital.

SEVERAL SUSPECTS

Several suspects were being sought in Peel's 21st murder of 2009 when investigators on Christmas Eve arrested Carol Martin, 55, who was described as homeless.

Martin was due to appear in an Ontario Court of Justice courtroom yesterday.

Police said he would be remanded in custody and ordered returned to court on a later date.

No details were available about a motive or whether the two men knew each other, but police said further arrests are expected.

Anyone with information is asked to call the homicide bureau at 905-453-2121, ext. 3205 or, anonymously, Peel Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or peelcrimestoppers.ca.

IAN.ROBERTSON@SUNMEDIA.CA