Guy Turcotte murder trial: Jury selection begins

Prosecutors say they will call 30 witnesses during the second trial of Guy Turcotte, a former Quebec cardiologist who was found not criminally responsible in the slayings of his two young children at his first trial.

One of those who will be testifying will be Isabelle Gaston, the mother of the children, Olivier, 5, and Anne-Sophie, 3, who were killed in 2009.

Jury selection is taking place today in a Saint-Jérôme courtroom and the trial is expected to last about three months. Turcotte's first trial in 2011 ended with a jury finding him not criminally responsible for the deaths of his children. 

A new trial on first-degree murder charges was ordered after Quebec's Court of Appeal found the judge in his first trial erred on a point of law.

• Guy Turcotte's 2nd murder trial begins in Quebec

More than 1,600 potential jurors are expected to appear at the courthouse in Saint-Jérôme, located about 50 kilometres north of Montreal, over the next few days as the jury is selected.

Judge André Vincent will first hear from all potential jurors who would like to be excused.

Vincent told potential jurors if they had any personal relationships with the witnesses listed, they would be exempted from jury selection.

He also listed guidelines jurors need to meet in order to be part of the 12-member jury, including being a Canadian citizen and being able to understand French. 

Anyone not seeking an exemption has been excused until Sept. 22.