Calvin Burns-Smith, a man accused of killing a woman in Rothesay last year, is facing separate charges of making threats against another woman. In a recent court appearance, Burns-Smith set trial dates for two counts of uttering threats to cause harm in April 2025.
During the court session, Judge Kelly Winchester informed Burns-Smith that his trial is scheduled for two days on February 4 and 5 at 9:30 a.m. He remains in police custody in connection with the threat charges after pleading not guilty. Originally set for a June trial, the date was postponed at the request of his legal counsel.
The murder trial for Burns-Smith, who was already in custody on threat charges, is scheduled to commence on May 3. He faces charges of second-degree murder and tampering with human remains in relation to the death of Sarah Teakles, a 26-year-old mother of two found deceased in Maces Bay last year. Teakles, who resided in Rothesay with her family, was reported missing three days before her body was discovered by the RCMP.
Initially charged with manslaughter, Burns-Smith opted for a jury trial following a preliminary inquiry. However, the charge was elevated to second-degree murder, prompting a direct indictment by the Crown, bypassing the preliminary inquiry phase. In a recent pre-trial conference, Burns-Smith elected to have a judge-alone trial, with the Crown prosecutor consenting to the change.
Another pre-trial conference for the murder charge is expected to take place in early September.
