By Patrick Burles - @PatrickBurles on Twitter

Juror becomes upset after being excused in Saretzky murder trial (WARNING: Graphic content)

Jun 28, 2017 | 2:20 PM

LETHBRIDGE – The clock is now running on jury deliberations in the triple murder trial of Derek Saretzky.

He faces three counts of first degree murder in the deaths of 69-year old Hanne Meketech, 27-year old Terry Blanchette and his two-year old daughter, Hailey Dunbar-Blanchette, in addition to a single charge of committing an indignity to Hailey’s remains.

Before the jury could begin their task however, two members had to be removed to bring the number of jurors down to 12, from the 14 that sat through the trial. The jury had asked the judge earlier in the trial if they could remain together and see the case through to the end.

After Justice William Tilleman explained to them that such a move was not permitted under the criminal code, he had the juror numbers put into a box and two were selected at random, with those individuals – a man and a woman – then being excused.

As the female juror began walking from the courtroom, she stopped, faced the judge and became visibly upset as she began speaking.

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“I would just like the record to state how wrong it is that you subject people to this, and then show them the door and say ‘have a nice day’ and don’t let them complete the process and don’t let them have a final say, regardless of what the verdict is,” she stated.

“It’s not right to treat people this way,” she continued. “You have us come, against our will, and then show us the door, without being able to complete the process and get any closure for ourselves.”

Throughout the trial – which started on June 7 – the jury had to take a number of breaks, as members would become upset while hearing and seeing extremely graphic evidence. It included crime scene photos of Terry and Hanne’s bodies, as well as images of Hailey’s bones after they were pulled from a fire pit at a campsite near the Crowsnest Pass. They also heard a video recorded confession, in which Saretzky told police that he dismembered Hailey and committed acts of cannibalism, before burning her body.

In Justice Tilleman’s charge (instructions) to the jury, which came before the outburst in court, he explained that the burden of proof remained on the Crown, and that Saretzky didn’t have to prove anything.

He also explained that for the jury to find Saretzky guilty of first degree murder, they must answer four questions for each count. He listed those as: Did he commit an unlawful act? Did his conduct cause death? Was there intent to kill or cause bodily harm? Was there any planning and deliberation?

If they answer ‘yes’ to all four, then Justice Tilleman said they must find Saretzky guilty of first degree murder. Without planning and deliberation, he said they would then have to decide on a guilty verdict to second degree murder. In Hailey’s case, they could also find that if she was killed as part of a kidnapping, then he could also be found guilty of first degree murder.

Watch for updates, as Lethbridge News Now (@lethnewsnow on Twitter, also on Facebook) will remain at the courthouse until the jury reaches a verdict.