Jury deliberations for a second-degree murder trial in Manitoba are back on — with 11 jurors — after briefly being paused so a juror could be tested for COVID-19.
Court of Queen’s Bench Justice Vic Toews put the deliberations on hold Wednesday, telling the remaining jurors one of their peers was exhibiting symptoms for the novel coronavirus and was not allowed to enter the courthouse.
On Thursday Toews said he received advice from public health that it is safe and prudent to continue.
Jury trials were suspended across the country in the spring as the justice system grappled with how to handle the pandemic.
They resumed in Manitoba at the start of September with the trial of Kane Moar, who is charged with second-degree murder in the death of Ricardo Hibi.
Hibi, a 34-year-old foster home manager, was stabbed to death in 2018.
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The court put several protocols in place. Jury selections have been held in a large convention centre near the courthouse and there has been physical distancing in courtrooms during trials.
Masks also became mandatory after an employee at the Winnipeg courthouse tested positive for the novel coronavirus earlier this month.
Toews said Thursday even if a juror tests positive, it doesn’t mean the remaining jurors would need to self-isolate given the preventatives steps taken in court.
–With files from The Canadian Press
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