Jury Selection Begins For Alleged Fredericton Shooter

Jury selection will continue Tuesday to determine if the man accused of killing four people in Fredericton last summer is fit to stand trial.

Matthew Vincent Raymond is charged with four counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of Fredericton police constables Sara Burns and Robb Costello and civilians Donnie Robichaud and Bobbie Lee Wright on Aug. 10, 2018.

Close to 800 people filed into the Grant-Harvey Centre on Fredericton’s south side Monday, where a makeshift courtroom had been set up in one of the rinks.

The prospective jurors were randomly divided into smaller groups of 50 people, with the first two groups set to appear at the Fredericton courthouse Tuesday.

Each person will be asked a series of questions to determine if they are eligible to be jurors. The process will continue until 12 jurors and two alternates are chosen.

Hundreds of people are filing into the Grant-Harvey Centre in #Fredericton as jury selection begins for Matthew Vincent Raymond. pic.twitter.com/FR7b4CNKNu

— Brad Perry (@BradMPerry) September 30, 2019

Justice Fred Ferguson of the Court of Queen’s Bench told the prospective jurors they will decide whether Raymond is fit or unfit to stand trial based on a balance of probabilities.

According to the Criminal Code of Canada, a person may be unfit to stand trial if a mental disorder leaves them unable to understand the nature of the proceedings, understand the possible consequences of the proceedings, or communicate with counsel.

During Monday’s hearing, Raymond was escorted out of the courtroom after a series of outbursts. He was placed in an arena dressing room, where he could still see and hear what was going on.

Ferguson told the potential jurors that whatever decision they reach about Raymond’s fitness will not affect his eventual trial.

If Raymond is found unfit, Ferguson said an order would be taken for whatever treatment or supervision is necessary for him to ensure he’s fit to stand trial at a later date.