30 years later, Larry Fisher stands trial for murder

A new chapter unfolded Tuesday in one of the oldest and most notorious murder cases in Canadian history as Larry Fisher prepared to go on trial for the 1969 sex slaying of a Saskatoon woman, a crime for which David Milgaard spent 23 years in prison.

Gail Miller was a nursing assistant. Milgaard was a hippie kid from Winnipeg on his way to the West Coast.

Milgaard was convicted of Miller's rape and murder and spent 23 years in prison before DNA testing proved his innocence.

Now, with Fisher charged, unusual measures are being taken to ensure the same mistakes don't happen again.

Gail Miller's brother Lloyd is hoping the trial marks the beginning of an end to three decades of uncertainty.

"It's dragging on and on, that's not easy, bringing back memories all the time, until the trial is over, it will never really be settled," he told CBC News.

Fisher's trial is expected to be lengthy and complex.

The court will be faced with evidence that's 30 years old and witnesses with faded memories. A total of 39 witnesses could be called over the next four weeks.

The court, the Crown and the defence team are going to extraordinary lengths to ensure Fisher receives a thorough and fair trial.

The trial has been moved from Saskatoon to Yorkton because of the publicity surrounding the case.

More than 300 people have been summoned as potential jurors. The selection process, which began Tuesday could take one or two days, to complete. After intense scrutiny, 12 jurors will be chosen.

The trial will be closely watched by the public and the legal community, says Sanjeev Anand, who teaches criminal law in Saskatchewan.

"The public has a concern ... that innocent people are being convicted, that guilty are allowed to go free," he told CBC News.