A 26-year-old homeless woman charged with Ottawa's first murder of the year will be back in court in two weeks.

Jennifer Bird made a brief court appearance by video remand Friday afternoon. She will be back in court on Jan. 21.

Bird, of Belleville, is charged with second-degree murder. She has been living in shelters and on the street since moving to Ottawa.

Bird is charged in connection with the death of 43-year-old Simon Hubbard who was found lying in a pool of blood metres from his New Edinburgh home. An autopsy ruled he was stabbed to death.

Police say the victim and accused knew each other, but their relationship has not been made public.

Hubbard's friends remembered him as a music-loving cook who went out of his way to be kind to others. They say they are unaware of his connection to Bird.