Calvin Burns-Smith, accused of the murder of a woman in Rothesay last year, appeared in court to schedule trial dates for two counts of making threats against another woman. The charges involve threats to cause harm on two separate dates in April 2025. Judge Kelly Winchester set the trial dates for February 4 and 5 at 9:30 a.m., specifying that Burns-Smith would remain in police custody.
Burns-Smith pleaded not guilty to the charges and had previously been set for trial in June, which was later postponed at the request of his lawyer. Additionally, he was already in custody for the threat charges when he was arrested by RCMP in April last year in connection with the death of Sarah Teakles, a 26-year-old mother of two. Teakles’ body was discovered in Maces Bay, southwest of Saint John. Burns-Smith faces charges of second-degree murder and interfering with human remains, with the trial scheduled to commence on May 3.
Burns-Smith initially faced manslaughter charges in connection with the death, choosing a jury trial with a preliminary inquiry in July 2025. The charge was later elevated to second-degree murder, and a direct indictment was filed by the Crown, bypassing the preliminary inquiry. During a recent pre-trial conference, Burns-Smith opted for a trial before a judge alone, a change to which the Crown prosecutor agreed. Another pre-trial conference for the murder charge is anticipated to take place in early September.