After numerous delays, lawyers have started to pick the 12 jurors for the trial of accused murderer Andre Wareham.
More than a hundred people packed in the Superior Court of Justice in Thunder Bay on Monday.
The court started the process of picking the potential jurors that will determine the fate of accused Wareham. Police charged Wareham with second-degree murder in January 2009 in connection to the death of 29-year-old William Atkins.
Wareham’s trial has faced some delays since his arrest.
The first came from a boycott of Legal Aid certificates by Ontario lawyers, while the second major delay took place after a concern surfaced regarding the representation on the jury panel.
Justice Helen Pierce had dismissed the first panel of potential jurors for lack of Aboriginal representation.
Justice T.A. Platana, who has taken over the case since Pierce, ruled that they could go ahead with the jury selection.
Wareham’s lawyer Steven Hinkson said he was glad that they were finally getting to the trial.
He added that he didn’t know the reasons yet behind the decisions that allowed the jury selection to go forward, but said he didn’t see many changes being made.
“I went into it thinking they had done some things or minor changes in order to improve the jury process here in Thunder Bay,” Hinkson said.
“Was it efficient enough to remedy the problem and make the 2012 array proper? I didn’t think they done enough. I don’t think they have undertaken sufficient steps to remedy the problems that still exist from 2011, 2010 and 2009. I’m waiting to see the reasons behind his ruling.”
Hinkson said the court tried to go into communities to try to obtain lists as well as have people fill out questionnaires.
Besides that, Hinkson said he hasn’t seen anything done that would make a significant impact on the problem.
Once the jury panel is selected, the Crown is expected to call about 17 witnesses to the stand within the two weeks of the trial.
None of the charges against the accused have been proven in court.
The trial begins Tuesday.
Follow Jeff Labine on Twitter @Labine_reporter
