Michael Ball sent a friend a text message saying he thought about “getting a duffel bag” for Erin Howlett weeks before the Elmira woman’s were found in such a bag, jurors at Ball’s murder trial heard Tuesday.

On the stand was Cody Cook, a 25-year-old high school friend of Ball’s.

Cook, who now lives in Alberta, testified that the two reconnected in 2012 and often hung out together, using cocaine supplied by Ball.

Much of Tuesday’s testimony centred on June 27, 2013 – the last day Howlett was seen alive.

Ball has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder in connection with her death.

Cook testified that he first met Howlett in the spring of 2013, through his connection with Ball, whom she was dating at the time.

“He really liked her,” Cook said.

“She was a good girl to him.”

Before Howlett died, the relationship became much rockier.

Jurors heard that Ball told Cook in early June he thought Howlett was cheating on him.

A number of text messages between Ball and Cook were read aloud in court.

“I was gonna end up beating the (expletive) out of her if I confronted her,” read one.

Another message, sent three minutes later, saw Ball claim that he “contemplated tying her up and getting a duffel bag”.

Cook testified that the conversation made him feel “very uncomfortable.”

“That’s a scary thing to talk about,” he said.

Jurors have previously heard testimony from another acquaintance of Ball's, who said that Ball told him he had bought “the biggest duffel bag he could find” and planned to use it “for Erin’s body."

Howlett disappeared on June 27, 2013.

Cook said that he saw Howlett that afternoon – in Ball’s Kitchener apartment, along with Ball and a fourth person.

Later on in the day, Ball helped Cook move. Howlett was not present for that, jurors heard.

Her remains were found in a duffel bag in the Grand River eight days later.

Under cross-examination, Cook was questioned about his statements to police after Howlett’s disappearance.

The first time he spoke to investigators, he said that he saw Howlett leave Ball’s apartment.

Thirty minutes’ worth of his second interview with police was not recorded.

Cook was asked Tuesday if he felt pressure to agree with police, particularly after they told him that Howlett had never left Ball’s apartment, to which he responded affirmatively.

He also testified that he never told police he thought Ball was responsible for Howlett’s death.

The trial resumes Wednesday with more testimony from Cook.