The boyfriend of an LA business manager to celebrities such as Nicki Minaj and the Kardashians pleaded not guilty to ‘torturing his girlfriend with a knife before murdering her and then driving around with her body in the trunk of his car.’

Jason Barker, 49, will remain behind bars at the Van Nuys Jail after pleading not guilty to the murder of Angela Kukawski, 55. He it set to reappear in court on June 16 for a preliminary hearing, according to Radar Online. 

Kukawski who was found dead in the trunk of her car in the Simi Valley suburb on December 23, only a day after she was reported missing. 

Barker allegedly tortured Kukawski with a knife and firearm before he brutally murdered her and drove around with her body in the back of the vehicle.

‘Detectives believe that Barker killed the victim inside their Sherman Oaks residence, placed her inside her vehicle, and drove to Simi Valley,’ the Los Angeles Police Department said at the time.  

Jason Barker, 49, (pictured in January) pleaded not guilty on Friday to allegedly torturing his girlfriend Angela Kukawski, 55. with a knife before murdering her and then driving around with her body in the trunk of his car 

She was a business manager for the Kardashian (pictured with Ben Winston), among other stars

Kim Kardashian and Nicki Minaj attended the Daily Front Row’s 3rd Annual Fashion Los Angeles Awards in 2017. She was also a manager for Minaj 

A Ventura County coroner reported that Kukawski died from sharp and blunt force injuries to the head and neck and strangulation, which they ruled a homicide.

Barker was arrested on December 28 and booked into Van Nuys Jail where he was charged with murder and torture and is being held on a $3million bond. 

He appeared in court in January sitting behind a glass screen, wearing a yellow jumpsuit and white face mask, and spoke only to confirm his identity and to be read his rights.   

Kukawski’s body was said to have been found in the trunk of a car in the LA suburb of Simi Valley at the 1500 block of Patricia Avenue 

The mother-of-five worked at Boulevard Management in Woodland Hills, which specialized in ‘financial management services to entertainers, athletes, and high-net worth individuals,’ according to their site.   

‘We are saddened and heartbroken by the loss of our colleague, Angie Kukawski,’ Todd Bozick of Boulevard Management had said in a statement to Variety. 

‘Angie was a kind, wonderful person, and she will be greatly missed by all who knew her.’   

As manager, she worked with celebrity clients such as the Kardashians and Nicki Minaj. 

She had also worked with the Tupac Shukar estate as well as Kanye West and OffSet.   

 Kukawski’s former celebrity clients included the Kardashians (pictured at the Met Gala) who offered their condolences to their late manager. They said at the time: ‘She cared about everyone of us and made things happen that were impossible’

Rapper Nicki Minaj also paid tribute to her former manager on social media 

‘Angela was truly the best,’ the Kardashian-Jenner family wrote in a statement to DailyMail.com at the time. ‘She cared about everyone of us and made things happen that were impossible. 

‘She will be greatly missed and we send our sincere condolences to her family and loved ones during this most difficult time.’  

Minaj had also posted to social media to pay tribute to her manager at the time. 

‘Hardest working, most reliable, sweetest person you could ever know,’ Minaj wrote. 

‘You didn’t deserve this, Angela. My heart is breaking for your children. Rest in peace.’ 

‘We are saddened and heartbroken by the loss of our colleague, Angie Kukawski,’ Todd Bozick of Boulevard Management said in a statement to Variety. 

‘Angie was a kind, wonderful person, and she will be greatly missed by all who knew her.’ 

LAPD officers arrested Barker on December 28 on charges of murder and torture