Triple murder trial delayed
More evidence to be heard in voir dire hearings
The murder trial for a 24-year man accused of killing three people in the Crowsnest Pass in 2015 has been delayed for a week while the court hears evidence during voir dire hearings. The trial for Derek Saretzky was set to begin May 29, but it was rescheduled to June 5 to allow more time for the hearings, which are being held to determine whether certain evidence will be allowed at the trial. The judge also needs time to make his decision, which is required before the trial begins in Lethbridge Court of Queen’s Bench.
Saretzky has pleaded not guilty to two counts of firstdegree murder in the deaths of 27-year-old Terry Blanchette and his two-year-old daughter Hailey Dunbar-Blanchette. He has also pleaded not guilty to offering an indignity to a body in the case of the toddler.
RCMP charged Saretzky shortly after Blanchette’s body was found Sept. 14, 2015, at his home in Blairmore. His daughter’s remains were found the next day in a rural field.
The accused has also pleaded not guilty in the death of 69-year-old Hanna Meketech. Her body was discovered in her Coleman home Sept. 9, 2015. As police investigated the deaths of Blanchette and his daughter, evidence surfaced which led them to suspect Saretzky of Meketech’s death, as well. He was charged with her death in April of last year.
Saretzky, who has sat impassively in the prisoners’ dock since the voir dire began Monday, was previously ordered to have a psychiatric assessment to determine whether he is fit to stand trial and can be held criminally responsible for the crime. At a subsequent hearing, court was told the assessment determined he is fit.
Evidence presented during the voir dire cannot be reported under a court-order publication ban. The hearing is expected to run until Wednesday, and the Crown and defence have been instructed to provide written arguments before the weekend so the judge can render a decision the following Tuesday. Jury selection is scheduled for May 25-26 and a second voir dire hearing may be necessary sometime before the trial starts in June.