Christopher Husbands, facing charges including second-degree murder, applied to challenge prospective jurors for cause based on potential bias related to mental illness, specifically concerning a "not criminally responsible" defence.
The defence proposed a third challenge question regarding preconceptions about mental illness, in addition to agreed-upon challenges for race and publicity.
The court considered expert testimony on public stigma against mental illness but found that the evidence did not establish a widespread bias specific to the mental disorder at issue (PTSD) or that jurors would be unable to set aside such bias despite judicial instructions.
The application for the additional challenge for cause question was dismissed.
