A young woman accused in the brutal sex slaying of 13-year-old Nina Courtepatte sounded confident as she gave three not guilty pleas yesterday in the first day of what is expected to be an eight-week trial.
The 19-year-old, who was 16 during when Courtepatte was killed and her body left on a golf course, faces charges of first-degree murder, sexual assault and kidnapping.
Crown prosecutor John Watson says the new trial will include 30 to 40 pieces of admitted evidence, including a hammer allegedly used as a murder weapon.
In addition to the mass of evidence, 30 witnesses are also expected to take the stand.
The woman is the last among five people charged in the death of Courtepatte.
The 13-year-old girl was raped twice before she was murdered on a golf course west of Edmonton after being lured from West Edmonton Mall in April of 2005.
