THUNDER BAY - After being charged with second-degree murder less than two years ago for his alleged role in the death of Barbara Kentner, Brayden Bushby has entered a plea of not guilty.
Bushby, 20, was arraigned in a Thunder Bay Courtroom on Monday during the opening of pre-trial motions, which are scheduled to take place all week. On the charge of second-degree murder and aggravated assault, Bushby entered a plea of not guilty.
The charges date back to an incident on the night of Jan. 28, 2017, when it is alleged that Bushby threw a metal trailer hitch from a moving vehicle that struck Kentner in the abdomen while she was walking in the Cameron Street area.
Kentner later died in hospital in July 2017 at the age of 34.
Bushby was first charged with aggravated assault but the charges were later upgraded to second-degree murder following a review of the case by the Crown and Thunder Bay Police Service with the assistance of the Regional Coroner’s Office.
Last January, a judge ruled following a preliminary hearing that there was enough evidence to proceed to trial on the charge of second-degree murder. Defense counsel filed a certiorari application arguing the preliminary hearing judge erred in his ruling and Bushby should have been committed to stand trial on the charge of manslaughter.
A judge dismissed the application and the three-week trial is set to open on Jan. 13, 2020 on the charge of second-degree murder.
There is a publication ban in place on all pre-trial motions and evidence in this case.
Bushby has been out on bail since November 2017.
