Case of man accused in murder of Halifax yoga instructor back in court

The case of a Halifax man charged with the second-degree murder of a Montreal-born yoga instructor was back in court Tuesday.

Nicholas Jordan Butcher appeared in Nova Scotia Supreme Court as pre-trial motions were being heard ahead of his jury trial in the death of 32-year-old Kristin Johnston, slated to start April 3.

READ MORE: Nicholas Butcher to return to court

Information presented at the hearings, scheduled for 10 days, are protected by a publication ban.

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Butcher – wearing a navy suit, striped tie, white collared shirt, and rectangular glasses – sat at his lawyer’s bench during the proceeding Tuesday.

Butcher, in his mid-30s, is being represented by lawyers Peter Planetta and Jonathan Hughes, while Crown lawyers Carla Ball and Tanya Carter are prosecuting the case.

WATCH: Man charged with second-degree murder in death of Kristin Johnston

1:57 Man charged with second-degree murder in death of Kristin Johnston

Justice Joshua Arnold will preside over the trial.

Johnston moved to Halifax from Montreal and opened a Bikram yoga studio.