A Cape Breton man accused of killing a woman from Glace Bay has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder.
Thomas Ted Barrett is charged with killing 21-year-old Brett Elizabeth MacKinnon, who disappeared from her Glace Bay apartment in June 2006. Her skeletal remains were found in November 2008 near a nature trail in the town.
Barrett's trial is underway at Sydney provincial court, where he entered the not guilty plea Monday morning. Barrett has elected trial by judge alone.
Earlier this month, a judge dismissed an application for a publication ban in Barrett’s trial.
Barrett’s lawyer argued the publication ban was necessary to prevent potential jurors from being influenced before the 39-year-old Glace Bay man faces another murder trial in a separate case in September.
Barrett is charged with second-degree murder in the death of 21-year-old Laura Catherine Jessome, whose body was found inside a hockey bag, floating on the Mira River near Marion Bridge in May 2012.
Justice Robin Gogan ruled there is some risk in terms of Barrett having a fair trial, but that the evidence fails to establish that it is a real and substantial risk.
Gogan’s ruling means the media will be able to fully report details from Barrett’s trial.
