Jurors sequestered for deliberations in Misha Pavelick trial

Jurors received detailed guidance on evaluating evidence and deciding charges in the trial over Misha Pavelick’s 2006 death. Sierra D'Souza Butts reports.

Jury members have been sequestered to reach a verdict in the Misha Pavelick murder trial after hearing a lengthy list of instructions from the judge.

Pavelick died after being fatally stabbed at a high-school graduation party held at a campground near Last Mountain Lake, on May 21, 2006.

After a nearly 20-year police investigation, the historic murder trial began on Oct. 20.

On Wednesday morning, Justice Catherine Dawson provided a lengthy list of instructions to the 12-member jury due to the large amount of evidence presented over three weeks of proceedings.

One of the key directions to the jury was to deliberate with caution when discussing some of the witnesses who testified, as parts of their testimony may be incriminating or helpful to the accused.

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Several of the witnesses were considered suspects of Pavelick’s death or friends of the accused. Those witnesses include Scott Nelson, the accused’s cousin (who cannot be named at risk of identifying the accused), Andrew Perkins, Kyle Edwards, and Dustin Scudder.

However, that does not mean their entire testimony would be unreliable.

If supported by other evidence, including other witnesses’ testimony, then jurors were advised to consider those testimonies as usual. In addition, if jurors believe what witnesses said is of significance but is not backed up by other evidence, they can still choose to rely on it.

Instructions for charge

Justice Dawson also provided instructions on how jurors must decide to charge the accused, whether he is found guilty of second-degree murder, or manslaughter, or neither.

In order for the accused to be found guilty of second-degree murder, the Crown had to provide evidence the accused had the intent to cause death or bodily harm to Pavelick.

Jurors can decide the accused is not guilty of second-degree murder but is still guilty of manslaughter, which is a homicide without intent.

The jury will return to the courtroom if they have any questions and once they have reached a verdict.