by Closing arguments will be heard today in the second degree murder trial of Thomas Ted Barrett.
The 40 year-old Glace Bay man is charged in the death of Brett Elizabeth McKinnon from Glace Bay.
Yesterday, Judge Robin Gogan ruled that a video-taped statement that contains damning testimony against Barrett can be entered into evidence.
On the recording made in 2009, Sheryl Ann Flynn says Barrett confessed to her that he killed McKinnon by strangling her.
Flynn died from a drug overdose in 2013.
The defence fought against having Flynn’s statement entered as evidence but in her 32-page decision Judge Gogan says she finds it unlikely Flynn’s memory on key points would change even if she could be cross-examined.
Gogan also says she doubts that Flynn up made the accusations against Barrett to escape shoplifting charges she was facing.
Defence lawyer Brian Bailey had argued this could have been a motive for Flynn to make the statement years after she says Barrett confessed to her.
McKinnon’s remains were found in a wooded area in Glace Bay in 2008, two years after she was reported missing.