Former juror Mark Farrant 'grateful' for new counselling support services

A former Ontario juror living with post-traumatic stress syndrome says he's grateful the province will introduce free counselling services for people traumatized after their time in court.

Mark Farrant, 44, went public with his experience in a CBC Toronto exclusive story last month.

He was the jury foreman in a first-degree murder trial in 2014, when a Toronto man was found guilty of stabbing his girlfriend to death and setting their home on fire. Farrant was diagnosed with PTSD after the trial. 

He said today's announcement is good news.

"The speed of the response has just been fantastic," Farrant told CBC News.

Juror responds to introduction of Ontario's juror support program

8 years ago

Duration 1:05

Mark Farrant, a former juror who suffered PTSD after a murder trial, responds to the province's decision to introduce the Juror Support Program.

The province is still working out the program details, but Farrant hopes jurors will get help tailored to their individual needs.

"Obviously, the therapeutic journey and recovery journey is lengthy, it could go on for years," said Farrant, who himself is still in recovery and undergoing counselling.

"I think the next stage of this is a support plan in place for a juror who's performed their civic duty, and aid them along the way."

Farrant continues to pay for his own counselling. It's not clear whether today's announcement includes compensation for former jurors who've sought help on their own. 

'You can't un-see it'

Amy Capern says the new support can't come soon enough. She sat on the Natasha Abogado case this spring. 

Abogado, 18, was struck and killed after getting off a Toronto bus more than two years ago. York Regional Police officer Const. Remo Romano was charged with dangerous driving. 

The judge declared a mistrial after the jury was deadlocked.

"You can't un-see it. You can't un-hear the screeching tires," said Capern, a mother of two. 

Surveillance footage captured the moment Abogado was hit and killed. Capern said the jury watched the video repeatedly in the courtroom.  

"You see her as a very young, healthy, vibrant young woman. And then you see the image, and hear the impact of the vehicle making contact with her body," said Capern.

"And you're also in the courtroom, with a family who's lost a daughter." 

Capern hopes the government's new counselling support will be retroactive for anyone who's served jury duty and needs someone to listen.

"We are told to share this with no one," said Capern. 

"I was not and am not able to seek support for my experience, only to speak vaguely about my emotional well-being while trying not to let this trauma, which has already impacted so many, also impact my family."

Capern, who is getting her masters degree in counselling, says while she learned a lot about the justice system during her time as a juror, she believes better support would improve the experience significantly.