Lisa Ellins

The young person, charged with second-degree murder, brought a pre-trial application for directions regarding jury selection procedures.

The case had attracted significant pretrial publicity.

The court established a comprehensive jury selection protocol, including liberal pre-screening, specific anti-bias instructions, and a focused challenge for cause process to address potential partiality from media exposure.

The trial judge determined she would ask the challenge questions and adjudicate the challenges individually with other prospective jurors excluded.

The Crown brought an application for an order permitting court security officers to place soft, silent shackles on the young person during his trial for second-degree murder.

The young person opposed the use of shackles, arguing that enhanced procedural protections under the Youth Criminal Justice Act required the least restrictive measures.

The court granted the application, finding that silent shackles balanced the need for courtroom security and the prevention of escape with the young person's dignity and the presumption of innocence, as the shackles would not be visible to the jury.

The young person, charged with second-degree murder, applied for bail.

The Crown sought detention on the secondary and tertiary grounds.

The court found a substantial likelihood that the young person would commit a serious offence if released, given his prior criminal record and history of violence while in custody.

The court rejected the proposed plan of release, finding the proposed sureties unsuitable and incapable of providing adequate supervision.

Bail was denied and the young person was ordered detained in custody pending trial.