Nicholas Butcher reveals texts between him and woman he's accused of killing

Nicholas Butcher began testifying Thursday in his own defence at his Halifax murder trial, reviewing a series of digital messages between him and girlfriend Kristin Johnston in the days before her death.

The messages detail loving exchanges between the two, in contrast with evidence earlier in the trial that Johnston was unhappy in the relationship and had told friends she was considering breaking up with Butcher.

Butcher, 36, is charged with second-degree murder in the death of Johnston, 32, who was found dead in her Purcells Cove-area home on March 26, 2016. He has pleaded not guilty.

His Nova Scotia Supreme Court trial began earlier this month, and the jury has heard evidence that Butcher killed Johnston, a Montreal-born yoga teacher, and cut off his hand with a power saw.

Jury told to keep an open mind

Peter Planetta, Butcher's lawyer, told the jury to keep an open mind before his client began testifying.

Butcher told the court he first met Johnston in 2011 through a mutual friend when she moved to Halifax from Montreal to open her yoga studio.

Butcher said he and Johnston didn't start a romantic relationship until June 2015. He said by the end of summer, he was living at her Purcells Cove house practically all the time. He moved his things to her place in January 2016.

Butcher said they broke up once — in November 2015 — because she didn't respond when he asked her if she loved him as much as she loved a previous partner. Butcher said Johnston was the one who suggested they get back together.

Butcher spent most of the afternoon in court going over messages he exchanged with Johnston while she was away in Florida and Costa Rica about a month before her death.

Different tone in texts sent to Butcher

The Crown had introduced messages Johnston exchanged with friends during that period, in which she talked about being unhappy in her relationship with Butcher and was looking for ways to end the relationship.

Butcher read a series of messages from Johnston in Florida in which she refers to him as "dear," "love" and "adorable." He said Johnston told him of her plan to go to Costa Rica while she was in Florida and he said he encouraged her to go for a vacation.

Butcher read aloud to the jury several messages where he and Johnston discussed how much they missed one another. He read a text message to the court in which Johnston wrote that she wishes he was with her on the beach.

Stress from the business

The messages the jury heard Thursday also went over the stress Johnston told Butcher she was feeling over the failure of her yoga studio. 

Butcher said Johnston's yoga business wasn't turning a profit and that she was falling behind on her commercial rent and utilities. He told the jury Johnston was under a lot of stress.

Butcher said the landlord of her rented yoga studio space changed the locks of the door. He said a few days before she came back to Halifax, Johnston found out her landlord was suing her.

Butcher's testimony stopped for the day as he was reading messages sent March 25, 2016 — the day before she died. He is expected back in court Friday to resume his testimony.

The CBC's Blair Rhodes blogged from court Thursday. Those on mobile can read here.

The jury has heard Johnston was found dead in a pool of blood at her home, having bled out quickly after she was stabbed in the neck by a knife several times. A Halifax Regional Police officer testified last week her head was covered with a pillow and a black-handled steak knife was next to her on the bed.

The jury heard there was a short struggle at the scene and that Johnston's hands had what appeared to be defensive injuries, as though she was trying to ward off an attack.