The accused brought a motion to challenge prospective jurors for cause under s. 638(1)(b) of the Criminal Code on the basis of potential racial bias and pretrial publicity.
The defence proposed multiple-choice versions of the traditional Parks question and an additional question regarding stereotypes about Black men.
The court reviewed the jurisprudence on challenges for cause, including the requirement to demonstrate a realistic potential for juror partiality.
The court declined to permit the multiple-choice format and rejected the stereotype question due to insufficient evidentiary basis.
Instead, the court approved modified questions addressing racial bias and exposure to publicity, requiring jurors to answer in their own words.
