Voir dire delays trial for man accused of killing trio in Crowsnest Pass

The murder trial for a 24-year man accused of killing three people in the Crowsnest Pass in 2015 is underway in Lethbridge Court of Queen’s Bench.

Proceedings however, began Monday with a voir dire — a mini trial within a trial — to determine the admissability of evidence. The voir dire is expected to last at least a week, and possibly longer. Jury selection is scheduled for May 25-26, followed by the actual trial May 29. The trial, court was told, could be delayed depending on whether more time is needed to complete the voir dire.

The accused, Derek Saretzky, was arraigned Monday and pleaded not guilty to two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of 27-yearold 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 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 leading them to suspect Saretzky of Meketech’s death, as well. He was charged with her death in April of last year.

Saretzky, who sat impassively in the prisoners’ dock at the start of his trial 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, which began with a lengthy introduction by co-Crown prosecutor Photini Papadatou, cannot be reported under a court-order publication ban.