New Brunswick is the first jurisdiction in Canada to conduct a variety of juries and a full jury trial since the COVID-19 pandemic, first of all nationally limited court operations.
The jury’s decision for Matthew Vincent Raymond’s physical fitness hearing took place in August, and precautions were taken to ensure that the hearing was conducted safely. The Department of Justice and the Attorney General’s Office received larger spaces at the Fredericton Convention Center to create transitority hearing rooms that would allow physical distance from trial and impose medical examinations and contact search measures.
Jury members were subject to the pre-trial variety, which would decrease the number of other people who will have to be physically provided in the jury variety process. Jury applicants were also assigned barcodes to register through a computer program, which would minimize the time they would have to spend on the site for the variety process.
These measures aimed to resolve expected disruptions that could hinder the conduct of a jury trial in the context of the COVID-19 crisis. Jury variety procedure regularly requires the presence of a large number of participants.
Jury members are a pillar of the justice formula and a segment of the law that protects our basic rights,” said Andrea Anderson-Mason, Minister of Justice of the province and Attorney General Anderson-Mason.
Anderson-Mason said the province needs a timely and ongoing administration of justice and has developed a streamlined procedure for announcing the resumption of face-to-face procedures.
The jury found raymond has the consistency to stand trial.
Raymond faces four counts of first-degree murder. During the fitness trial, a 12-person jury heard the defense’s testimony. First, a psychiatrist treating the defendant stated that the defendant suffered from schizophrenia, prompting him with delusions and disorganized speech. The psychiatrist had mandatory medications.
Second, a member of the defendant’s defense team testified about the defendant’s conduct at his meetings and the defendant’s clashes with guards and criminal personnel. The witness said the defendant’s attitude had changed after taking the mandatory medication.
After deliberation, the jury that the defendant had the support for trial, which is scheduled to begin on September 15.