The fatigue and pressure of 11 days of deliberations got the better of another juror on Sunday who was to consider the fate of Dominico Scarfo, accused of the premeditated murders of two Montreal mafia lieutenants committed in 2016.
Posted at 5:14 p.m.
Early in the afternoon, juror number 6 handed a note to Judge Michel Pennou of the Superior Court of Quebec stating “that due to lack of sleep and health problems”, he felt “less and less less comfortable making a decision that weighs so heavily”.
After receiving the note, the magistrate sought the advice of prosecutors and attorneys for the prosecution and defense who decided that the juror should be excused.
Judge Pennou then released the juror and broke the news to the ten others. However, he offered them to take Monday off, but they decided to continue their deliberations in the morning and to take the afternoon off only.
“It’s been 11 days in a row. Sometimes the best way to keep going is to take a break. If it can help you move forward and complete the job,” the judge told them.
The latter ordered the sheriff to organize a group outing on Monday afternoon and to bear the costs.
Deliberations began Thursday, March 24 with 12 jurors.
Last week, a first juror was released after a special constable overheard a personal phone conversation in which a relative told the juror that the deliberations “were taking too long and [les jurés] should send it [l’accusé] in prison “.
Hours of testimonials
Dominico Scarfo, who is charged with conspiracy and the premeditated murders of Lorenzo Giordano and Rocco Sollecito, was betrayed by a former accomplice who became a civil undercover agent (ACI) for the Sûreté du Québec, who reconnected with him in 2019 and who recorded it without his knowledge.
Over the past 11 days, jurors have asked to rehear the testimony of the ACI – which lasted several days –, the testimonies of other witnesses and the closing arguments of the Prosecution and the Defence. They also have copies of the recordings that they can listen to again as they wish.
The ACI tapes and testimony formed the core of the evidence in the trial, which lasted two months. Presumably they also constitute the heart of the deliberations.
In his final argument, Mr.and Marie-Christine Godbout of the prosecution insisted that many things in the police mole’s tapes and testimony were corroborated by other witnesses and documents.
For his part, M.and Luc Trempe of the defence, pleaded in particular that the testimony of the ACI was not credible and invited the jurors not to dissociate it from the recordings filed in evidence.
To reach Daniel Renaud, dial 514 285-7000, extension 4918, write to [email protected] or write to the postal address of La Presse.