Woman appears in court on 2nd-degree murder charge in pedestrian's death

A Sydney Mines, N.S.,woman charged with second-degree murder and criminal negligence causing deathafter a vehiclestruck and killed a womanFriday has made a court appearance.

Tension was palpable Monday as Kimberly Ann O'Dea, 36, was remanded to custody until a bail hearing Aug. 2 in Nova Scotia Supreme Court in Sydney.

Family and friends of the 28-year-old victim sobbed during O'Dea'sbrief appearance before a judge.

Police were called to a report of a collision Friday morning on Oxford Avenue in Sydney Mines. The victim was airlifted to hospital in Halifax where she later died from her injuries.

O'Dea was arrested a short time later. Police say the two women knew each other.

'Distraught' over charges

O'Dea has yet to find a lawyerand was represented Monday by duty counsel Michael Kuna.

"She's very, very distraught and upset over the charges," Kuna said outside court.

There is a list of 17 peopleO'Deais not allowed to contact.

Crown attorney Gerald MacDonald said there is a "significant amount"of disclosureto go through and theinvestigation is ongoing.

He noted both charges O'Dea faces carry a maximum sentence of life in prison.

"Thereare different minimums with parole eligibility, but certainly a life sentence is a life sentence, so it is a serious charge," he said.