By Canadian Press

Hearing to begin to determine if accused in Fredericton shootings fit for trial

Sep 29, 2019 | 7:04 AM

FREDERICTON — Jury selection begins Monday at a hockey rink in Fredericton to determine if Matthew Raymond — accused of killing four people in a shooting spree in August 2018 — is fit to stand trial.

Earlier this month, Justice Fred Ferguson of the Court of Queen’s Bench ruled the threshold to question the fitness of the accused had been met.

Fitness means that an accused understands the charges against him and can instruct a lawyer on how he wishes to be defended.

Raymond is charged with the first-degree murders of Fredericton police constables Sara Burns and Robb Costello and civilians Donnie Robichaud and Bobbie Lee Wright.

A pretrial hearing has been scheduled for 9 a.m. Monday at the Grant-Harvey Centre, at the same time potential jurors have been told to show up to begin the registration process, but the reason for the pretrial session has not been released.

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The arena was chosen for jury selection to accommodate the large number of people who were sent notices as prospective jurors.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 29, 2019.

The Canadian Press