Murder trial proceeds despite jury roll questions

Jury selection got underway Monday in a Thunder Bay murder trial, after nearly a year-long delay.

Andre Wareham is charged with second degree murder in the 2009 death of William Atkins. A trial was set to begin last March but a judge ruled the jury pool didn't adequately represent the Aboriginal population in the region.

Since then defence lawyer Steven Hinkson has been pressing that point. Other jury trials in the city were also delayed.

But on Monday, Justice Terrence Platana proceeded with jury selection. The reasons for his decision are expected to be released soon.

Hinkson said he won't comment directly on the judge's decision, but said he has concerns that not much has changed since the jury roll issue was first raised in this case.

"I didn't think they had done enough," Hinkson said. "I didn't think they had undertaken sufficient steps to remedy the problems that, for instance, still existed in 2011."

Meanwhile coroner's inquests in Thunder Bay have been put on hold indefinitely while a review of inquest juries is underway.

It's been ruled that inquest jury pools don't adequately represent First Nations people living on reserve in the region.

The same jury pool is used for both criminal trials and inquests.