Joel Clow, P.E.I. man accused of first-degree murder, chooses jury trial

46-year-old Joel Clow, accused of first-degree murder in the death of 40-year-old Traci Lynch in Pleasant Grove this past July, has chosen to be tried by judge and jury.

• Joel Clow, accused of Traci Lynch's murder, remains in custody
• Pleasant Grove man charged with murder after woman's body found

Clow was not in court today, but the case took a small but significant step forward at a brief proceeding where his lawyer said Clow has chosen to waive his right to a preliminary inquiry and will proceed straight to P.E.I. Supreme Court for trial by judge and jury.

Clow remains in jail, charged with one count of first-degree murder, and one count of indecent interference with a human body.

RCMP found Traci Lynn Lynch's body on a rural property north of Charlottetown July 24, after searching homes and woods for evidence.

Lynch was from Pictou, Nova Scotia, and had been living in Pleasant Grove with her young son.

Clow is also charged with uttering threats and interfering with a peace officer in connection with an incident back in May in the community of Tracadie. Those charges will be rolled into this same trial.

Provincial court judge Nancy Orr set Clow's next appearance in December, in P.E.I. Supreme Court, to enter a plea on the charges.

Supreme Court officials say it will likely be April or May at the earliestbefore the trial will take place.