HALIFAX – Jury selection has concluded for the trial of two people charged in the death of Loretta Saunders last year.
Blake Leggette and Victoria Henneberry are each charged with first-degree murder. Their trial began Monday in Nova Scotia Supreme Court, more than a year after they were arrested in Ontario and brought to Nova Scotia to face the charges.
On Tuesday, the final people for the 14-person jury were selected — 10 men and four women.
“It was a lengthy process. We were expecting it to be lengthy,” said Crown prosecutor Sean McCarroll. “Two days was more than I expected but that’s what it took and we’re happy with the outcome.”
Saunders’s family was present in the courtroom for Tuesday’s proceedings.
“I want justice for my daughter,” her mother Miriam Saunders told media after the final juror was selected.
The Crown said it expects to call between 20 and 30 witnesses.
“We’re going to try to chronologically follow what happened to the best of our ability,” said prosecutor Christine Driscoll. “You can expect to be hearing from some police and civilians.”
Loretta Saunders’ family said they’re putting their trust in the courts.
“The justice system has to go by the books and we understand that,” Miriam Saunders said.
The jury received instructions from the judge before court was adjourned for the day.
The trial will resume Wednesday at 2 p.m.
Henneberry’s lawyer had asked that the two accused be tried separately, a motion that Leggette’s lawyer supported but the court rejected.
Loretta Saunders went missing in February 2014. Her body was found in a wooded area off the Trans-Canada Highway in New Brunswick, two weeks after she disappeared.
Catch up on the court proceedings with our live blog replay:
With files from The Canadian Press
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