HAMILTON—A second suspect charged in the disappearance and death of Tim Bosma made a brief court appearance Thursday sporting several injuries. 

Mark Smich, 25, of Oakville only spoke his name and answered “yes” to several questions during a 10-minute appearance in a Hamilton court before hunching away from some four dozen reporters seated inside. 

Smich, who stood at medium height with a thin build and wearing a dirty brown T-shirt and baggy jeans, appeared nervous in the courtroom as he looked around for a few seconds and did not appear to recognize anyone in the crowd. 

He covered a black eye and cut on his left cheek with his hand. 

Smich is the second person to be charged with first-degree murder in the death of Bosma, 32.  Dellen Millard, 27, of Toronto has also been charged and remains in custody. 

“At this point, Mr. Smich has planned to plead not guilty,” his lawyer, Thomas Dungey, told reporters after Thursday’s court appearance. “ We will be defending this case vigorously.” 

Police allege Smich and Millard arrived at Bosma’s rural Ancaster home on May 6 to test drive his 2007 Dodge Ram pickup.  Bosma never returned. 

His truck was found parked inside a trailer belonging to Millard at his mother’s home.  Bosma’s body was found burned “beyond recognition” on Millard’s Waterloo farm. 

Police say the two accused know each other, but have not elaborated. 

Neighbours on Smich’s Oakville street, near where he was arrested on Wednesday morning, say the man was friendly in passing, often hanging out with friends on his front porch and working on cars in front of his house. 

His criminal record goes back to when he was 18, including two convictions from drug possession charges, two fail to comply convictions and one conviction for impaired driving. 

He was also charged with mischief under $5,000 for spray-painting an Oakville overpass in October 2012.  Those charges have not yet been resolved.  He will next appear on June 3. 

On Thursday, he was remanded into custody for the murder charge and will appear again for that on June 13.