KAWARTHA LAKES-A Lindsay courtroom was packed with potential jurors today as jury selection began in the case of Fenelon Falls man charged with murder.
William Savage was charged with 1st degree murder in the death of Bowmanville’s David Palmer in 2016. Palmer was reported missing on October 6, 2015 but was last seen October 2nd when his picture was captured on video at the Race Trac gas station on Highway 35 according to the OPP.
Police found Palmers vehicle on October 14th near Spruce Lake Trail, near Haliburton. On May 7, 2017 human remains were discovered north of Haliburton and were positively identified to be Palmer.
Justice Alexander Sosna told potential jurors that the trial should start on Wednesday and is scheduled to take approximately 5 weeks.
14 Jurors will be chosen with 12 to hear the case and two as alternates. The Judge asked the potential jurors if anyone had any contact or relationship with the accused, the victim or any of the witnesses and those jurors were excused. He then told the remaining jurors that there were three other issues that would possibly prohibit them from sitting on the jury.
The Health of the juror was one issue that could preclude someone. The juror must be able to hear the testimony, understand the language of the trial and in this case be able to walk at least 1.3 km on uneven terrain. There will be a visit to one of the significant locations in the case. Involvement with similar issues could cause a bias so that could preclude some jurors as well as if the trial would pose personal financial or other hardship of the individual.
The trial is scheduled to start Wednesday and continue Thursday with a break on Friday and will continue next week.
Savage is out on bail.
