Murder charge laid in Britta Malette case

The man suspected of killing former Michigan Soo resident Britta Malette - who was born in Sault, Ontario - has been charged today with open murder, according to the Port Huron Times-Herald.

The charge was laid today in Michigan's St. Clair County District Court.

Under Michigan law, prosecutors are not required to choose between first-degree or second-degree murder and may instead charge "open murder," leaving it to a jury to decide the degree,

After his arrest on Saturday in Huron County near the tip of Michigan's "thumb," Peterson was taken to hospital with what police believe was a self-inflicted neck wound.

He was transferred to jail Monday morning.

Malette, 26, was found dead in her Port Huron apartment Friday morning.

Autopsy results indicated she died of blunt force trauma and had stab wounds.

The Sault Star says that Malette was born here in the Ontario Sault.

Reports indicate Malette and Peterson had been living together.