During the jury selection process for a murder-conspiracy trial involving two men charged in connection with the 2022 Coutts border blockade, a prospective juror was promptly excused after showing up in court wearing a T-shirt with the faces of the accused printed on it. The juror’s blatant display of bias left no room for debate, and he was swiftly dismissed.
In addition to this peculiar incident, several other potential jurors were also excused for various reasons. One man, who has worked overnight shifts for 14 years, expressed concerns about his ability to stay awake during the trial proceedings. Another potential juror was excused due to bias, citing that his brother was a police officer. A woman who had a non-refundable trip booked to Europe was also excused, much to her delight. She reportedly burst into tears of joy when the judge granted her request.
After a thorough four-hour proceeding, a jury of five men and nine women was meticulously selected to preside over the trial. The accused, Anthony Olienick and Chris Carbert, are facing serious charges of conspiracy to commit murder of police officers, mischief, and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose. The trial is expected to commence later this week and could potentially extend until mid-July, according to the presiding judge.
During the jury selection process, the judge carefully considered concerns raised by both the Crown and defense lawyers regarding the impartiality and fitness of potential jurors to serve. Several individuals acknowledged having prior knowledge of the case, being personally impacted by COVID-19, or holding strong opinions on the Coutts blockade. The judge emphasized that while it would be virtually impossible to find jurors with no prior exposure to the highly publicized case, the court was committed to ensuring impartiality.
In assessing the potential jurors, the judge acknowledged the need for realism given the high-profile nature of the case. He remarked that it would be highly unusual to find individuals who had no opinions whatsoever on the controversial Coutts blockade. However, he stressed that the court’s primary objective was to select a jury that could remain impartial despite their personal views and render a fair verdict based solely on the evidence presented in court.
