Bonnell murder trial adjourned due to illness

The first-degree murder trial of Curtis Bonnell was adjourned for the day again on Tuesday due to illness.

Defence lawyer Gilles Lemieux has laryngitis and cannot speak, the jury was told within minutes of court being in session.

Bonnell, 32, of the Esgenoopetitj First Nation, is charged in the death of his 16-year-old first cousin Hilary Bonnell.

The Crown alleges Bonnell picked up Hilary on Sept. 5, 2009, as the she was walking along Micmac Road in the province's northeastern community after a party.

Bonnell is accused of holding Hilary against her will, sexually assaulting her and killing her.

It's unclear when the trial will resume.

Lemieux is expected to contact the Miramichi Court of Queen's Bench on Tuesday evening to indicate whether he is feeling well enough to continue on Wednesday.

The Crown witnesses, who were scheduled to testify on Tuesday, will have to be rescheduled.

On Oct. 10, the trial adjournedfor half a day at the request of Lemieux, who was sick.

On Monday, a pathologist testified that Hilary could have been buried alive.

Dr. Ken Obenson, who performed the autopsy on Nov. 14, 2009, said the probable cause of death was asphyxia.

The trial started on Sept. 17 and is scheduled to last up to eight weeks.