Mother of slain Nova Scotia girl makes brief court appearance

The mother of a slain 12-year-old Nova Scotia girl made a brief appearance in court Monday, where she was arraigned on one charge of first-degree murder.

Penny Patricia Boudreau, 33, was tearful as she faced the judge and a packed courtroom. She was remanded into custody and ordered to be back in court June 24 to face the charge related to the death of her daughter, Karissa Boudreau.

Penny Boudreau was ordered not to have any contact with witnesses, including her boyfriend Vernon MacCumber, who was described by the Crown attorney as a "material witness."

There were almost 100 spectators gathered inside the Bridgewater courtroom to watch Penny Boudreau's first appearance in court. They ranged from a 12 year-old friend of Karissa's who was unable to attend her funeral to seniors who had never met the girl.

Also in the courtroom were Paul Boudreau, Karissa's father, and an uncle and an aunt of the girl. Penny Boudreau's parents were there, too.

All spectators had to pass through a metal detector to enter the building.

Wearing a red t-shirt and jeans, Penny Boudreau sniffled and wept throughout her appearance, looking at the ground and hiding her eyes with a tissue.

Another 100 people waited outside the courthouse to see Boudreau as she entered and exited the building. Some booed, whistled and yelled names at her as she was escorted from the courthouse into a police van after her arraignment.

Boudreau was arrested Friday in Halifax and charged with murdering her daughter. The girl's body was found on the banks of the LaHave River 12 days after she was reported missing by her mother.

RCMP and Bridgewater police said Friday at a news conference that they are confident only one person was responsible for Karissa's slaying, and they said their investigation has shown Karissa knew her killer.

Karissa was reported missing Jan. 27 after she reportedly disappeared from the parking lot of a Bridgewater grocery store as a snowstorm descended on the town. Boudreau told police she had argued with her daughter that day as they drove to the store.

Two days after she reported her daughter missing, a tearful Boudreau appealed to the public for help at an emotional news conference.

The girl's body was discovered on Feb. 9 by a passerby on the river bank, just outside town limits.