Montreal

Guy Turcotte's murder trial loses a juror

The trial of a former Quebec doctor who is charged with murdering his children has lost a juror.

Trial down to 11 jurors, needs a minimum of 10 jurors to proceed

Guy Turcotte is accused of first-degree murder in the 2009 deaths of his children Anne-Sophie and and Olivier. (Graham Hughes/Canadian Press )

The trial of a former Quebec doctor who is charged with murdering his children has lost a juror.

That means 11 people will now continue to hear the case against Guy Turcotte, who faces two counts of first-degree murder in the 2009 slayings of Olivier, 5, and Anne-Sophie, 3.

Quebec Superior Court Justice André Vincent said he exercised his powers under the Criminal Code to free the juror. The reason for the dismissal cannot be made public.

A trial needs a minimum of 10 jurors to proceed.

The case will not sit Thursday and Friday, as another juror requires an operation for an injury sustained last weekend. A trial cannot proceed with an absent juror.

Turcotte has pleaded not guilty to the charges but admitted through his lawyers last week to causing the children's deaths.