Sask. judge allows Greg Fertuck to personally question ex-girlfriend in murder trial
A man accused of murder can recall two witnesses for questioning, a judge ruled.
Justice Richard Danyliuk is allowing Greg Fertuck to personally cross-examine his ex-girlfriend, Doris Laroque and gun expert, Kenneth Chan.
Fertuck is accused of shooting his estranged wife Sheree Fertuck at a gravel pit near Kenaston, Sask. nearly eight years ago. Her body has never been found.
Fertuck’s original lawyers withdrew from the case mid-trial, after Fertuck went behind their backs and made complaints about them to the Law Society of Saskatchewan.
Now representing himself, Fertuck said he wanted to cross-examine two Crown witnesses again, himself — claiming his lawyers didn’t ask what he wanted and didn’t follow his instructions.
“[Fertuck] is convinced, he says, that his own further cross-examination will provide evidence that will prove him innocent,” Danyliuk wrote in a fiat, dated May 11.
By allowing witnesses to come back on the stand, Danyliuk is effectively reopening the voir dire. A voir dire is a hearing to determine if evidence can be used in a trial.
The Crown opposed the decision. It wants to see proceedings move forward to trial.
The Crown claimed the two witnesses were already cross-examined by competent counsel.
“The overarching consideration is trial fairness,” Danyliuk wrote.
“Mr. Fertuck must be allowed to meet the case against him.”
While Fertuck wanted Laroque to testify in the same room as him, Danyliuk turned down the request.
The judge decided she can be re-questioned, but via video link from a different room in the courthouse — as she previously did.
In the fiat, Danyliuk said Fertuck “needs to be mindful of keeping any questions relevant” to the case and not to their personal relationship.
When Laroque initially took the stand in the trial on Oct. 26, 2021, she testified Fertuck drunkenly admitted to killing Sheree.
While Fertuck can question the witnesses, so can the Crown prosecutors.
The Crown is also allowed to bring forward rebuttal evidence, if required, based on any new information that may come out as a result of the questioning.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
U.S. says Israel's use of U.S. arms likely violated international law, but evidence is incomplete
The Biden administration said Friday that Israel's use of U.S.-provided weapons in Gaza likely violated international humanitarian law but wartime conditions prevented U.S. officials from determining that for certain in specific airstrikes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Mother assaulted by stranger while breastfeeding baby in her car: Vancouver police
A person was arrested in East Vancouver Thursday after allegedly entering a car while a mother was breastfeeding her four-month-old boy.
'We have laws': Premier Smith says police action justified in Calgary
The actions, including the decision to use non-lethal force, to disperse pro-Palestinian protesters from the University of Calgary campus were justified, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said Friday.
'State or state-sponsored actor' believed to be behind B.C. government hacks
The head of British Columbia’s civil service has revealed that a “state or state-sponsored actor” is behind multiple cyber-security incidents against provincial government networks.