PEI

Nearly 2 years later, trial begins for man accused of murder

A three-week trial in P.E.I. Supreme Court starts Monday. Joel Lawrence Clow has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder. The body of Traci Lynch was found on a property in Pleasant Grove July 24, 2015.

Joel Clow goes on trial Monday for the July 2015 death of Traci Lynch.

Joel Clow has pleaded not guilty to the charge of first-degree murder in the death of Traci Lynch. (CBC)

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  • Joel Clow later pleaded guilty to manslaughter after a previous murder conviction was overturned.

Nearly two years after the body of Traci Lynch was found on a rural property in P.E.I., the man accused in her death is going on trial.

Joel Lawrence Clow has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder. The trial, by judge alone in P.E.I. Supreme Court, begins Monday and is slated to run three weeks.

The trial was supposed to have happened last June, but Clow's lawyer at the time suddenly stepped down on what was supposed to be the first day of that trial. The lawyer told court at that time Clow wasn't following his legal advice.

The body of Traci Lynch was found on a rural property in the community of Pleasant Grove, P.E.I. (CBC)

Halifax lawyer Joel Pink is now defending Clow. Crown attorney Cindy Wedge is leading the prosecution. Justice Wayne Cheverie, who was originally presiding over the case, has since retired.  A new judge will take his place.

Clow is also charged with indecent interference with a human body. The remains of Traci Lynch were found in a wooded area of a rural property in the community of Pleasant Grove on July 24, 2015 by investigators with Queens district RCMP.

Joel Clow has remained in custody since his arrest nearly two years ago.