A 34-year-old man, facing a charge of sexual assault, will face trial this week at the Prince Albert Exhibition Centre. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Court proceedings

Prince Albert to host one of the province’s first jury trials in nearly 6 months

Sep 28, 2020 | 8:00 AM

After a nearly six-month hiatus, jury trials are set to resume in Saskatchewan this week.

To ensure proper social distancing, they’re all being off done off-site from the courthouses. For example, the one commencing Monday in Regina will be at the Conexus Arts Centre, followed by one starting Tuesday at the Prince Albert Exhibition Centre.

Noel Busse, Executive Director of Communications for the Ministry of Justice and Attorney General, told paNOW.com one of the biggest challenges has been finding facilities off-site that are appropriate and can ensure matters can proceed safely.

“The ministry’s main priority is ensuring all participants, including jurors, can be confident that public health requirements are met and that it is safe to attend and perform this important civic duty,” he said.

According to a statement on the Saskatchewan Law Courts website, the selection of the space and the protocols that will be in place to screen jurors and to maintain physical distancing outside of the courtroom will be managed by the Court Services Division of the Ministry of Justice, in accordance with Court Services Jury Management Policy and Procedures.

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“So staff would be doing regular cleaning of high touch surfaces like tables and doorknobs and railings, and ensure there are adequate supplies of hand sanitizer for use by trial participants,” Busse said.

On March 15, the Court of Queen’s Bench issued a notice that jury trials scheduled to begin March 16 or later were postponed.

The trial at the Prince Albert Exhibition comes nearly one year after Sylvester Bird, 34, was charged with sexual assault. A not guilty plea was entered last December.

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nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell