LADYSMITH (AP) -- A woman was found dead on some railroad tracks near Ladysmith 32 years ago. On Monday, a retired janitor accused of strangling her goes on trial.
Attorneys say medical experts will be key witnesses in the second-degree murder trial of 65-year-old Roy Beaulieu in the May 1976 death of Laura Bruce.
Beaulieu was charged after Bruce's body was exhumed and a forensics expert ruled she had been strangled. Beaulieu's attorney, Robert Ferg, says his experts will dispute that.
Beaulieu told investigators he and Bruce walked along the tracks to find a place to have sex. Beaulieu said the two then disagreed over the sex, and he stood up, slipped on the gravel, fell and struck Bruce in the chin and neck with his arm.
The trial is expected to last all week.
