London

Inmate murder trial delayed by legal arguments

The Adam Kargus murder trial was put on hold Monday so that the court can hear legal arguments in the jury's absence.

Anthony George has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder in the death of Adam Kargus

Deb Abrams arrives at the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in London, Ont. Monday as the trial of Anthony George is set to begin. George has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder in the 2013 beating death of her son, Adam Kargus while the two men shared a cell at the Elgin Middlesex Detention Centre. (Colin Butler/CBC)

The Adam Kargus murder trial was put on hold Monday so that the court can hear legal arguments in the jury's absence. 

The trial is set to resume Tuesday afternoon when the prosecution is expected to make its opening statement to the court. 

Anthony George is accused of second-degree murder in the 2013 beating death of his cellmate Adam Kargus at the troubled Elgin Middlesex Detention Centre. 

The trial was supposed to start today and was expected to last three weeks, but jurors were told to take the rest of the day off and return Tuesday afternoon in order for the court to deal with a legal matter.

"I am very mindful of the intrusion on your lives and I'm very mindful that your time is valuable and important," Justice Marc Garson told the jury. "I'm doing everything in my sphere of control to minimize the inconvenience to you."

"I owe a duty to others," he said. "In this case that paramount duty is to a fair trial."