The man accused in the 2025 d***h of Sarah Teakles has chosen to be tried by a judge alone, marking a significant development as the case moves forward. The accused faces charges including m****r and indignity to human remains. He has the right to be presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court. As legal proceedings continue, the decision is expected to shape the next stage of this closely watched case.

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Man accused of murder, indignity to remains of Rothesay woman opts for judge-alone trial

Calvin Burns-Smith is charged in death of Sarah Teakles in April 2025

A selfie of a man with brown hair and a goatee, wearing a grey tank top.
Calvin Burns-Smith, 32, of Musquash, who is facing a total of four charges, remains in custody. (Calvin Burns-Smith/Facebook)

A man accused of murdering a Rothesay woman in Musquash last year has re-elected to be tried by a judge alone, without a jury.

Calvin Burns-Smith, 32, of Musquash confirmed that he wanted to change his mode of trial during a brief appearance by phone Wednesday in Saint John’s Court of King’s Bench.

The information was under a publication ban until now.

Burns-Smith is charged with second-degree murder and interference with or indignity to human remains in the death of Sarah Teakles, a 26-year-old mother of two, on or about April 14, 2025.

RCMP found her body April 17 in Maces Bay, a small coastal community in Charlotte County, three days after she was last seen in Musquash, about 30 kilometres southwest of Saint John.

Her cause of death has not been released.

Teakles and Burns-Smith had been dating on and off, her mother, Cathy Dubee, previously told CBC News through family friend Tiffany Harvey.

A portrait of a smiling woman with long, wavy blond hair.
Sarah Teakles, 26, of the Saint John suburb of Rothesay was found dead April 17 in Maces Bay, about 50 kilometres southwest of the city’s downtown. (Submitted by Cathy Dubee)

Burns-Smith was initially charged with manslaughter and opted for a jury trial with a preliminary inquiry, a pre-trial hearing where a provincial court judge decides if the Crown has sufficient evidence to proceed to a trial in the Court of King’s Bench.

But the charge against Burns-Smith was upgraded to second-degree murder last August, and the Crown filed a direct indictment, which bypasses the preliminary inquiry stage and sends an accused directly to trial. Seven weeks were set aside, starting on May 3, 2027.

Several pre-trial hearings, known as voir dires, were also scheduled to determine questions of law, including the admissibility of certain evidence.

During a pre-trial conference Wednesday, however, defence lawyer Brian Munro, who appeared by phone, informed the court that Burns-Smith wished to re-elect the mode of trial, to one before a judge alone.

Crown prosecutor Elaina Campbell, who also appeared by phone, consented to the change and said it could reduce the trial to six weeks and eliminate the need for the voir dires. Munro agreed.

“That is good to hear,” said Justice Kathryn Gregory.

Publication ban lifted

She noted that an automatic publication ban normally prohibits the publication of proceedings held in the jury’s absence, but given Burns-Smith will now be tried by judge alone, questioned if there was any reason his re-election should not be made public.

The Crown proposed the judge impose a discretionary publication ban until the next pre-trial conference, “where perhaps we can just discuss this a little bit more in depth.”

Gregory said she wasn’t willing to wait that long as it “may well be some time away,” but did impose a temporary ban on everything discussed at the hearing, giving the lawyers until Friday at noon to submit their positions. She said she would then issue an order and notify the media.

A woman in braids smiles.
Teakles had recently attended New Brunswick Community College and obtained her certificate in carpentry, according to her obituary. (Submitted by Cathy Dubee)

In an emailed statement to CBC News, Gregory said both lawyers agreed the common-law ban was no longer required.

“The Court hereby vacates that ban, permitting publication and disclosure of information heard on July 8.”

Another pre-trial conference is expected to be held in early September.

Trial date to be set on 2 unrelated threats charges

Burns-Smith is also charged with two counts of uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm to another woman on April 5 and April 17 at or near Saint John.

He pleaded not guilty to those charges and was scheduled to face a trial in June, but that was postponed at the request of his lawyer and a new trial date is expected to be set on Aug. 4.

Burns-Smith was already in Saint John police custody on the threats charges when he was arrested by the New Brunswick RCMP April 21 in connection with Teakles’ death.

She was last seen April 14 in Musquash and was reported missing to police the next day.

On April 17, RCMP located her vehicle in Maces Bay, about 22 kilometres southwest of Musquash. Later that day, with the assistance of police dog services, officers found her body.

Teakles had been living with her children, mother and sister in Rothesay, family friend Harvey previously told CBC News.