Wilbur Dedam sex-crime trial goes to second day of jury deliberations
Former Esgenoôpetitj First Nation chief accused of sexually assaulting 3 girls between 1977-85
The jury in Wilbur Dedam's sexual assault trial at the Court of Queen's Bench in Miramichi couldn't come to a verdict in its first day of deliberations.
The jury began going over the testimony at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, but shortly before 10 p.m., they were instructed to halt for the night, and to return Thursday morning at 9 a.m.
The 64-year-old former chief of Esgenoôpetitj First Nation stands accused of sexually assaulting three women when they were young girls living in the community between 1977-85. Dedam faces six charges in all.
The jury returned to the courtroom on three occasions Wednesday evening.
The first time, they asked questions which can't be revealed because of a publication ban protecting the identity of complainants.
The jury also asked to hear taped transcripts of testimony from the first alleged victim.
On the second and third occasions, they asked to hear testimony and cross-examination of a second alleged victim.
Lengthy jury instructions
Justice Tracey DeWare needed almost three hours to give her instructions to the six men and six women on the jury Wednesday.
DeWare told the jury to make a decision without "sympathy, prejudice or fear."
DeWare then went through the testimony presented by both the Crown and the defence witnesses.
"Keep an open mind but not an empty head," she concluded. "Talk, but listen, too."
Dedam testified in his own defence on Monday and Tuesday and repeatedly denied any acts of sexual abuse ever took place.
- On mobile? Follow live blog of trial here
With files from Bridget Yard