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Kuujjuaq court can’t find enough jurors

Accused in sexual assault case will be tried later this year

JANE GEORGE

Canadian law says a person accused of an indictable offense has the right to be tried by a jury of 12 peers, if that is what he chooses.

According to the law, these jurors must also be impartial — that is, they must able to judge a case objectively.

Generally, jury selections go off without problems, but two weeks ago in Kuujjuaq, the task of finding a dozen impartial jurors proved impossible.

The jury was to sit in the trial of Johnny Mark Angnatuk, 36, who faced a charge of assault causing bodily harm in relation to an incident from September 2000.

Some 150 citizens of Kuujjuaq received a call for jury duty in this case, yet only about 50 showed up. Of these, only eight were found to be impartial, after having been questioned by the judge.

Three days into the search for a jury to hear Angnatuk’s case, the selection was called off.

"This was the first time this has happened in Nunavik," said François Paré, who is the regional director of judicial services in northern Quebec.

Angatuk’s case will be heard at a later date, when other pending cases against him may be tried at the same time.

Paré said he understood why more Kuujjuamiut didn’t respond to the jury call during the week of March 22.

"It was spring break, and even if they had received a notice, the sun was shining, and it was a chance to go out camping," Paré said.

Most accused in Nunavik are tried before a judge, but every year there are at least three cases that involve jury trials.

"It’s the right of an accused to be judged by his peers," Paré said.

During a trial by jury, the jury, not a judge, finds the accused person either guilty or not guilty.

Gaétan Roby, the deputy sheriff for Nunavik, said those who serve on a jury "adore" the experience — once they see what’s involved.

"It’s like a crash course in law," Roby said.

During jury duty, Quebec reimburses working jurors’ salaries and any childcare costs incurred. A stipend of $90 a day is offered to those who aren’t working.

As well, an additional $45 is paid for night sittings, if that becomes necessary.

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