John Wayne Hynes tells court Thomas Barrett had a 'violent temper'

A man who helped unload a carpet containing the bodyof Brett Elizabeth MacKinnontestified Wednesdayat the trial of his former friend accused of second-degree murder in the woman's death.

John WayneHynes pleaded guilty in 2014 to accessory to murder andwas sentenced to three years in prison.

MacKinnon, 21was last seen in 2006. Herremains were found two years later.

• Thomas TedBarrett'strangled' BrettMacKinnon, witness told police
• Thomas TedBarrettmurder trial underway in Sydney
• John Wayne Hynes sentenced to 3 years in Brett MacKinnon death

He took the stand Wednesday at the trial ofThomas Ted Barrett in Nova Scotia Supreme Court. He told the Sydney courtroomhe saw MacKinnon and Barrett together one night at Barrett's house when he went over to do drugs and party, as he claimedhe often did.

In his testimony,Hynes detailed how he left the party that night to get baking soda to cook more drugs, but when he returned to the house, the doors were locked.

Hynes said he went back a few days later and went upstairs to use the washroom and said the bedroom door was locked.Barrett, 40,then questioned him about whether he went into the bedroom.

The next time he was at the house, Hynes said Barrett asked him to help him move a carpet from his kitchen.

Hynes said thought the rolled-up carpet contained something. He thought there was a body in it.

Threatened with shotgun

Hynes testified the two men placed the rolled-up carpet in the trunk and drove to Cameron Bowl Ball Field.

Thetwo then unloaded the carpet in a wooded area and on the way home, Barrett threw something out the window Hynes believed to be an identification card.

Hynes testified that a week later, he was back at Barrett's where they got into an argument about whether he told anyone about what happened that night.

Hynes said Barrett hasa violent temper andpointed a sawed-off shotgun at him. If hetold anyone, Barrett toldHynes,the next time it wouldn't be a threat.

During cross examination, defence attorney Brian Bailey detailed Hynes's criminal record for the court and asked him abouta 2013 police statement where he said Barrett did not threaten him.

Defence challenged Hynes, saying that in court he was not saying he'd moved a body, but instead just acarpet.

"I got three years in jail for moving a carpet?" Hynes said. "That would be a miscarriage of justice, wouldn't it?"

ReadCBC'sYvonne LeBlanc-Smith liveblogfrom court.