MONTREAL — Taxpayers are on the hook for more than $300,000 in expenses attributed to jurors in the criminal trial for the Lac-Megantic train explosion that killed 47 people. Fourteen jurors heard the evidence, while only 12 of them were sequestered and came back with three acquittals in the trial that began Oct. 2 and ended Jan. 19. Defence attorney Charles Shearson, who represented Harding, said the jury expenses are “but a fraction of the (total) cost,” and questioned whether his client should have been charged at all. The size of the bill didn’t surprise Shearson, given the four-month trial and complexity of the proceedings. He added it was the Crown’s decision to opt for a jury trial, and although the accused might have also chosen to be tried by their peers, he said, they didn’t get a say.

Source: National Post February 02, 2018 16:41 UTC