The trial of the Kitchener man accused of killing his roommate nearly two years ago began Monday with jury selection and opening arguments.
Kate Lynn Reid was last seen in January 2015.
Hugh McColl was arrested two months later on charges of second-degree murder and indecently interfering with a dead body.
Reid’s remains were later found in the area of Burn Place, near Highland Road and Belmont Avenue, where Reid and McColl lived in a third-floor apartment.
Before Monday’s jury selection began, McColl pleaded guilty to the indecent interference charge.
The 63-year-old then pleaded not guilty to murder.
By the noon hour, seven men and seven women had been chosen as jurors for McColl’s trial, which is expected to last for approximately four weeks.
One of the jurors was discharged later in the day after realizing that she knows one of the police officers who investigated Reid’s death.
Monday afternoon, the trial moved into opening arguments.
Crown prosecutor Sidney McLean told the jurors that she intended to prove McColl killed Reid, although he would not be able to explain exactly why the murder occurred.
“There are just some acts that defy rational explanation,” she said.
Court heard that Reid was being killed by being struck in the head repeatedly with a hammer.
Defence lawyer James Marentette acknowledged that McColl “caused the death of” Reid, but argued that it was in self-defence – saying that Reid had twice lunged at his client with a knife, demanding rent money.
Jurors also heard that Reid was an alcoholic who used crystal meth, and came into a large sum of money a few weeks before her death.
With reporting by Max Wark
