About 400 potential jurors came to a room at the Montreal courthouse Wednesday in what's expected to be a two week search for a jury of 12 plus two alternates.
Luka Magnotta watched on as the candidates took about one minute each to mostly explain to a judge why they should not be chosen.
Those waiting were kept outside in the hallway so they could not hear what other candidates said. Many were excused due to language issues but others came up with more unusual reasons.
Here are some of them:
- My husband is a member of the Hells Angels.
- I’m on CSST for a work accident.
- I'm a mother of three.
- I don’t think I’ll be able to do the job. It’s difficult for me to look at violent images.
- I can't afford to miss work and be paid only $90 a day. I need money to pay for my new home.
- In my mind he’s already guilty. I have nightmares about him.
- I have political beliefs that impede me from being able to serve.
- I have doubts about the political and judicial systems.
- I see things scientifically (Judge responds, "That makes you an ideal candidate.")
- I recently had a death in my family.
- I can’t be impartial because I’ve been the victim of a sex crime.
- I’m pregnant.
- I’m an esthetician and if I leave my job for too long I’ll lose all my clients.
- The trial falls on Jewish holidays.
- I won’t be able to take a leave from school.
- I have psychological problems.
- For me he’s been guilty from the get go and I’m not very emotionally stable because of my divorce.
- I’m stressing out just being here, I think he’s disgusting.
- I’m convinced of his guilt and I don’t believe in the legal system after what happened with Turcotte.
- I had nightmares all week just thinking about this.
- I suffer from severe anxiety.
- I’m a caregiver to my dad.
- I have a medical letter from my cardiologist.
- I live in Valleyfield and the commute would be too much for me.
- I followed the news and I’m not impartial.
- I currently work as a police psychologist.
- I have a criminal case against me.
- I wont be able to drive my child to and from daycare.
- My brother is a journalist. I also don’t speak English.
- I’m 84 years old.
- My business can’t function without me.
- I have high blood pressure when I get stressed out
- I speak no English except for "yes, no, toaster."
- I’m sickened by this case, I think he should have been castrated.
- I have trouble hearing.
- I’m not strong enough in either English or French.
- Ninety dollars a day wouldn’t allow me to pay my bills I currently make more than that.
- I wouldn’t be impartial my mind is already made up in this case.
- Just seeing him makes me uncomfortable.
- I’m 73 years old it’s hard to keep my attention for a long period of time.
- I’m 65 and I have medical problems. I would have difficulty having an open mind for this case.
-With files from CTV Montreal's Rob Lurie
