A man, Calvin Burns-Smith, faced court for unrelated charges of threatening another woman apart from the murder allegation in Musquash against a Rothesay woman last year. The court set trial dates for Burns-Smith for uttering threats on April 5 and April 17, 2025. Judge Kelly Winchester scheduled a two-day trial starting on Feb. 4 at 9:30 a.m. Burns-Smith, who pleaded not guilty to the charges, will remain in police custody.
Burns-Smith was initially arrested by Saint John police on threat charges and later by RCMP in connection with the death of Sarah Teakles, a 26-year-old mother of two, whose body was discovered in Maces Bay on April 17. He faces charges of second-degree murder and interference with human remains. The murder trial is set to commence on May 3.
Initially charged with manslaughter, Burns-Smith opted for a jury trial with a preliminary inquiry in July 2025. The charge was elevated to second-degree murder in August, leading to a direct indictment by the Crown. Burns-Smith’s defense lawyer requested a trial before a judge alone, which was consented to by the Crown prosecutor. Another pre-trial conference for the murder charge is anticipated in early September.