A high-profile murder trial is ready to begin for a second time in New Brunswick.
Fred Prosser is charged with first-degree murder in the death of his former girlfriend, Sabrina Patterson.
He also faces three sex-related charges and two breaches of an undertaking.
Patterson’s body was found in Shenstone, N.B. in the fall of 2010.
A mistrial was declared in July on the first day of testimony after it was discovered a juror made comments on an anti-Fred Prosser Facebook site.
Today, another 12-member jury was selected for the trial. Three hundred people were summoned to the Moncton Coliseum, where five men and seven women were chosen to decide Prosser’s fate.
“It will be hard to sit down and sit through this all over again,” says Dale Patterson, the victim’s brother.
“It’s been a long road. We’re happy to get things started and hopefully get this behind us.”
Judge George Rideout gave strict instructions to potential jurors about who does and doesn’t qualify, and made a point to mention comments on social media sites.
Rideout also appointed two people from the jury pool to help question potential jury members.
“The judge, he doesn’t want a mistrial,” says Patterson. “He doesn’t want anything to happen either.”
The Crown had an ideal jury in mind and at times Patterson would nod his approval or objection to potential jurors.
“Married, professional, more mature,” he says. “We want someone hopefully with kids.”
With the jury selected, the Crown can now move forward with their case beginning Wednesday.
Five weeks have been set aside for the trial. The Crown plans to call 40 witnesses to the stand.
With files from CTV Atlantic's Jonathan MacInnis
