Man pleads not guilty to sexual assault, choking

A 36-year-old man has pleaded not guilty to serious crimes against a woman alleged to have happened in Mount Pearl two weeks ago. Benji Barnes is accused of sexually assaulting, assaulting, forcibly confining and choking the woman on Oct. 26. He’s also facing charges of threatening three people. Barnes entered not guilty pleas in provincial court in St. John’s Wednesday morning, and his case is scheduled to be called again on Friday, when a date is expected to be set for trial.