A Montreal couple and their eldest son, charged with murdering members of their own family more than two years ago, are a step closer to their trial after eight jury members were selected Tuesday in Kingston, Ont.

The three family members face first-degree murder charges in the case, which unfolded after three sisters and an older female relative were found dead inside a car that was submerged in the Rideau Canal in June 2009.

Police allege that 19-year-old Zainab Shafia, along with her sisters Sahar, 17, and Geeti, 13, were murdered when the family car was dumped into the canal lock. Rona Amir Mohammed, 50, was also killed.

The girls' father initially told police and reporters that the deaths occurred after his eldest daughter took the family car on a joyride.

Mohammad Shafia, 58, his wife Tooba Mohammad Yahya, 41, and the couple's son, Ham ed Mohammad Shafia, 20, have pleaded not guilty in the case.

Along with 1,000 potential jurors, the three accused, who each face four counts of first-degree murder, arrived at the Kingston court Tuesday for the jury selection.

The court had initially scheduled a full week for jury selection, given the highly charged nature of the case and the amount of media attention it has generated.

But despite concerns that finding 12 unbiased jurors would be a long process, the first eight were chosen relatively quickly.

Potential jurors were asked about any bias in the case and also about their opinions of Muslims. The family is originally from Afghanistan, but lived in Dubai for 15 years before coming to Montreal in the mid-2000s.

The case has lurched forward in recent months, beset by several factors that included finding translators who speak Dari, a Persian dialect spoken in Afghanistan.

French, and potentially Spanish, translators will also be needed for the dozens of witnesses, and staff had to retool the Kingston courtroom where the trial will take place.

Chris Scott, from the Kingston police, said that officials want to ensure that the case proceeds without any more issues.

"We want to make sure we do show due diligence. That's what the Crown and defence councils are doing to make sure we have a jury pool that can judge all the details fairly, and be able sit for the duration of the trial."

The defence has been able to challenge some potential jurors, and the first official trial date is set for Oct. 20, said CTV Montreal Bureau Chief Genevieve Beauchemin.

"There is a chance that the trial could start sooner," she said, adding that "we'll have to see what happens in the next few days."

With a report from The Canadian Press