Nathalie Normandeau back in court in July to face fraud-related charges

Former deputy premier Nathalie Normandeau and her six co-accused will be asked to decide whether they want a single trial or to be tried separately when their case returns to court on July 5.

Defence lawyers representing Normandeau and six others facing charges that include corruption, breach of trust and conspiracy were in a Quebec City courtroom today as the Crown disclosed its evidence.

Normandeau, who was Quebec's former deputy premier as well as municipal affairs minister from 2005 to 2009, was arrested in March.

Also arrested were her former chief of staff, Bruno Lortie, two former Parti Québécois staffers and several figures associated with the engineering firm Roche (now known as Norda Stelo).

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"Defence lawyers must now decide what kind of trial they want," explained René Verret, a spokesman for Quebec's Crown prosecutors.

Verret said they could opt for a trial before a jury or a judge alone. They must also decide if they want a preliminary hearing and if the seven co-accused will be tried as a group or individually.

"Obviously, the goal is to avoid holding seven preliminary hearings and seven trials," Verret said, adding that would mean lengthy delays.

While the seven accused are expected to plead not guilty, their pleas have not yet been entered.