Twelve citizens were selected on April 28 in BC Supreme Court to hear the trial of Marvin Russel Moore, facing two sex-related charges.
Moore has pleaded not guilty to one count of sexual touching involving a person under 14 and one count of sexual assault. The charges stem from the time period between 1996 and 2000 in Anahim Lake, B.C. There is a publication ban on the identity of the alleged victim, as in all sexual assault cases.
Almost 100 potential jurors stood waiting as jury selection took place, under the watch of Justice Marguerite Church.
Church first gave the potential roomful of jurors a talk to explain the process, including the responsibility to participate in the justice system as citizens.
"I hope you will find it to be an interesting and rewarding experience," said Church.
"We appreciate the commitment jurors make."
However, she said each of us comes with our biases.
"No matter how unbiased we think we are, we look at others and we filter what they say through the lens of our own background and experiences."
She said jurors must keep an open mind and base their decision on the evidence presented during the trial.
"Impartiality requires active work," she told the courtroom.
Only Canadian citizens who can both hear the proceedings as well as read and understand spoken English and without health issues which would impact their ability to participate in the proceedings can act as members of a jury. Jurors can also be excused for reasons of extreme economic hardship.
After the clerk drew juror numbers from a box, and after six were excused for multiple reasons, a 12-person jury filed out to receive their instructions.
The trial was set to begin at 2 p.m. on April 28, 2025 and scheduled to last seven days, with three witnesses expected to provide testimony.
During the course of the trial the jury members are not allowed to search out information related to the case online or discuss the trial with anyone outside the court.
The charges have not yet been proven in court.
