Juror dismissed from trial of alleged murderer of police officer

One of 14 jurors in the trial of an eastern Ontario man charged with murdering an Ontario Provincial Police sergeant and injuring two other officers was discharged by the judge Wednesday.

The reason is covered by a publication ban.

Alain Bellefeuille is on trial in L'Orignal, east of Ottawa, for first-degree murder and two counts of attempted murder. It stems back to a spring 2023 wellness check that erupted in gunfire and left Sgt. Eric Mueller dead.

The accused has pleaded not guilty and is expected to testify in his own defence after the Crown closes its case, which could be later this week.

An issue arose Tuesday afternoon and discussions took place without the jury present Tuesday and Wednesday. The information heard in court is subject to a routine publication ban barring the dissemination of anything the jury hasn't seen or heard until they're sequestered for deliberations.

After the juror was dismissed, Justice Robert Pelletier alluded to the problem when he addressed the 13 remaining jurors.

All of his comments to the jury would typically be publishable, but the judge issued a publication ban Wednesday afternoon prohibiting reporters from publishing the reason for the juror's dismissal.

The jurors were asked to consider whether the issue had affected their ability to pay full attention to, and concentrate on, the evidence presented. If so, they were asked to report it to the judge in writing individually.

It's common practice for extra jurors to be selected at the outset of a trial in case any of them have to drop out. Only 12 jurors will enter deliberations after Pelletier gives his final instructions.

It's not in dispute that Bellefeuille killed Mueller and wounded constables Marc Lauzon and François Gamache-Asselin before dawn on May 11, 2023.

In question is whether he knew he was shooting at police and whether he was acting in self-defence when he repeatedly opened fire on them.

The Crown's case continued Wednesday with the end of OPP Const. Pierre Dubois's testimony. He responded to Bellefeuille's home after the shooting and said his rifle accidentally fired during a search of the area. 

Later Wednesday, forensic pathologist Dr. Charis Kepron's examination in chief began.

She performed Mueller's autopsy and concluded his death was caused by multiple gunshot wounds to his groin and right thigh that damaged multiple blood vessels, including a major artery.