'It's a part of me now': Juror from gas-and-dash murder trial plans to attend sentencing
The juror was one of 12 people who delivered a manslaughter verdict last week
One of the jurors who found Joshua Mitchell guilty of manslaughter last week in the gas-and-dash death of Maryam Rashidi says although she found the experience "emotionally draining" she plans to attend his sentencing hearing in August.
"I feel like it's a part of me now," said the juror, who CBC News has agreed not to identify.
Mitchell was originally charged with second-degree murder but after a two-week trial, the jury found him guilty of manslaughter. His August sentencing date was set on Friday.
In Canada, jurors are only prohibited from speaking about their deliberations.
As the verdict was delivered after more than ten hours of deliberations, several of the jurors were in tears including the foreman.
Juror worked near fatal incident
Rashidi began working at a Centex gas station on 16 Avenue N.W. after she and her husband were laid off from their engineering jobs in Calgary's oil and gas industry.
The juror happened to be working at Ricky's restaurant across from the station on June 7, 2015 when Mitchell drove over Rashidi as she chased after him following a gas theft.
Rashidi had climbed on the truck's hood while it was stuck in traffic. Mitchell tried to jostle her off but she eventually fell under the vehicle, which accelerated and drove over her, causing fatal injuries.
The only issue jurors had to consider was whether Mitchell was guilty of second-degree murder, meaning he intended to cause Rashidi's fatal injuries, or manslaughter, a verdict that assumes Rashidi's death was an accident.
Advice for other jurors: 'stay strong'
A single mother to a son who is the same age as Rashidi's boy Koorosh, the juror says she's already made arrangements for counselling offered by the province to help her deal with the experience.
"I don't think you ever really know what to expect going into this," she said.
As for advice to others who get called for jury duty, she says to keep an open mind.
"And to stay strong and not to get attached the way I did because I feel like I did."
- MORE CALGARY NEWS | Calgary pastor charged with 2nd-degree murder in baby son's death
- MORE CALGARY NEWS | Witness to dangerous Deerfoot driving sought by police