Jury selection has begun for two people charged in the shooting death of a university student at a bush party near Lambeth three years ago.
Carlos Guerra Guerra, 23, and Emily Altmann, 22, pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder in the death of Josue Silva, 18, and not guilty to assault with a weapon, namely a blunt object, causing bodily harm of another party-goer on July 31, 2021.
Superior Court Justice Patricia Moore told the crowded room on Tuesday that the trial is estimated to last 10 weeks.
Fourteen jurors are to be chosen to hear the case. Three groups of 20 people were picked at random to be considered Tuesday by the Crown and the defence.
Assistant Crown attorney Kristina Mildred read off the names of more than 200 potential witnesses and persons involved in the investigation to the group, part of a routine process in case a juror recognizes someone who could be a participant.
Potential jurors were told because the length of the trial and in case of financial hardship, a jury member will be paid $120 a day.
Once a jury is selected, the Crown will be asked to make its opening address.
Silva, a Western University business student who was also an athlete, was shot to death at the party in a wooded area on the outskirts of the city that was attended by about 100 young people.
He was about to enter his second year of studies and was working two summer jobs at the time of his death.