MONTREAL – It was the third day of jury deliberations in the stopping-for-ducks trial at the Montreal courthouse.
Many observers were expecting a verdict in the case that involves 25-year-old financial advisor Emma Czornobaj.
At around 3:00 p.m., there was some excitement on the fifth floor of the building. The jury handed a letter to Justice Elianne Perreault, and members made it clear they are nowhere close to a verdict.
One question in the letter read: “How do we proceed if there are jury members who refuse to follow the process as outlined by the judge?”
It’s a sign of possible in-fighting; or the 10-man, 2-woman panel could be at odds over other issues.
On June 27, 2010, Czornobaj stopped her car on the left lane of a Quebec highway and stepped out of her car to help some ducks.
A motorcycle carrying a father and daughter slammed into the back of Czornobaj’s car.
Fifty-year-old Andre Roy and 16-year-old Jessie Roy were killed.
The 25-year-old driver is facing four counts: two charges of criminal negligence causing death and two counts of dangerous driving causing death.
Justice Elianne Perreault asked the jury to continue its deliberation work and reminded the court she may be forced to call a mistrial “if the jurors cannot agree on a unanimous verdict.”
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