Lawyers for a Winnipeg man accused of killing four women are renewing their calls for a judge to decide the case instead of a jury.
They say two years of publicity surrounding the high-profile Jeremy Skibicki case may influence the jury chosen last week.
Skibicki has pleaded not guilty to four counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of Morgan Harris, Marcedes Myran, Rebecca Contois and an unidentified woman Indigenous leaders called Mashkode Bizhiki’ikwe, or Buffalo Woman.
Skibicki, dressed in a T-shirt, baggy pants and leg shackles, sat in court Monday as his lawyers argued that the six-week trial should be held before a judge alone.
It was the second time in six months that they argued that Skibicki should have the right to choose whatever mode of trial he wanted.
King’s Bench Chief Justice Glenn Joyal, who is also overseeing the trial, dismissed the initial motion.
Skibicki’s attorneys are now using the results of a survey conducted by Mainstreet Research in their renewed call for no jury seating.
The survey was commissioned by Legal Aid Manitoba, whose lawyers represent Skibicki, and was completed over a four-day period in February.
The firm’s director, Quito Maggi, testified that the survey was intended to measure people’s perceptions of Skibicki and the case.
“Polls are a snapshot in time…they serve to forecast potential outcomes,” Maggi told the court.
The survey questions and results have not been made public, but the court heard some of the questions related to respondents’ understanding of the “problematic DNA evidence,” whether race or gender played a role in the deaths. of the four women and whether the respondents have a positive opinion. or negative opinion of the accused.
Participants were contacted by phone or asked to complete a survey accessed through a link sent to them via text message.
He said court callers were read from a script and were not allowed to go outside of it to provide more context.
Maggi said 906 people completed the survey and there were no reports detailing significant problems with the survey.
The Crown took issue with the content of some of the questions, including one about whether it would be acceptable for Skibicki to be found not guilty by reason of mental disorder.
Crown prosecutor Renée Lagimodiere also told the court that some of the questions were unclear or vague.
The defense is expected to continue presenting arguments Tuesday.
Jurors are expected to appear in court on May 8, when opening statements are scheduled to begin.
The case dates back to spring 2022, when partial remains of Contois were found in a trash container and a municipal landfill.
Police have said they believe Harris and Myran’s remains are located at a different private landfill, Prairie Green, on the outskirts of town. The location of Buffalo Woman’s remains is unknown.
The search for Prairie Green has been at the center of controversy.
Protests were held across the country after police said they would not search the landfill for Harris and Myran, but last month the federal and Manitoba governments committed $40 million to a search.
The preliminary matter is expected to continue until Tuesday.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 29, 2024.