Thomas Ted Barrett murder trial hears how Brett MacKinnon's body was found

The second-degree murder trial of aGlaceBay man charged in the death of a young woman opened Monday with testimony describing the discovery of human remains.

Thomas TedBarrett, 40, is accused of killing21-year-old Brett ElizabethMacKinnon, who was last seen alive in2006. Her remains were found two years later.

Barrettis being tried by judge alone in Nova Scotia Supreme Court in Sydney.

Hunter EricMacPheewas one of eight witnesses to take the stand. He told the court he and hisniece foundMacKinnon'sremains in a wooded area ofGlaceBayhedescribed as an old tram line.

Several bones were found, including a spine and a skull. MacPhee testified he was in such shock that he called his girlfriend and asked her to look, just to be sure. He then called police.

He said it appeared there was an old Sobeys bag on the back of the skull.

The plastic bag was entered as evidence Monday. Cape Breton Regional Police Const. RollieMorrison testified the bag was underneath the skull and there was a knot in it.

Court was tolda forensic analysis didnot retrieve any DNA from it.

• The CBC'sYvonne LeBlanc-Smith live tweetedfrom the courtroom.

The court also heard from some who knew MacKinnon.ChantelleFrisson lived with herand MacKinnon's boyfriend, Travis Tower.She testifiedMacKinnon and Tower argued, and Tower was jealous.

MacKinnon's mother, Lynn Singleton, told the courtshe last saw her daughter two weeks before she went missing.

MacKinnon had suffered a miscarriage and they were at the hospital together. She said her daughter was upset and Singleton heardTower threatening MacKinnon over the phone.

Singleton testified she did not take the threat seriously.

Two weeks have been set aside for the trial.

Barrettwill also be triedin the fall in the death of21-year-old Laura Jessome.