Trial in chef's homicide extended, jurors told

Jurors in the trial of two men charged with the murder of Calgary chef Christophe Herblin didn't hear any evidence Thursday as lawyers dealt with legal issues.

And the 14-member jury also learned they'd be putting in more overtime as Justice Blair Nixon told them the trial, originally scheduled to last three weeks, will go into a fifth on Monday.

The jury of 14 members will be reduced to 12 once the case before them is completed. A provision of the Criminal Code allows for up to 14 individuals to be selected to preside over lengthy trials to ensure attrition doesn't create a mistrial.

Anthony Dodgson and Tommie Holloway are charged with second-degree murder in the March 14, 2020, stabbing death of Herblin outside his yet-to-open French bistro in a Bow Trail S.W. strip mall.

Herblin had arrived at the under-construction Croque Saveurs restaurant just after 3 a.m. in response to a break-in alarm.

He was there around 6 a.m. when he came outside while his car was vandalized, and shortly after was attacked and stabbed nine times.

It's the Crown's theory Holloway and Dodgson had returned to the scene after breaking into Herblin's business in an attempt to gain access to an adjacent cannabis store.

Prosecutor Carla Macphail said at the beginning of the trial the theory is Holloway vandalized Herblin's car to draw him outside, where Dodgson attacked him.

Jurors were dismissed Wednesday after Dodgson's testimony.

In his evidence, Dodgson admitted they had broken into Croque Saveurs with the intention of gaining access to the weed shop.

He admitted getting into an altercation with Herblin, but said he was too high on alcohol and drugs to remember if he stabbed him.