Jury selection begins in Basil Borutski triple murder trial
Posted Oct 2, 2017 03:52:37 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
OTTAWA – Basil Borutski, 59, is facing three first degree murder charges stemming from incidents that took place west of Ottawa on September 22, 2015.
In the early hours of that morning, Carol Culleton, 66, was found beaten and strangled to death at her cottage.
Later, Anastasia Kuzyk, 36, and Nathalie Warmerdam, 48, we’re shot to death in their homes in Wilno and Eganville.
Borutski appeared emotionless in court Monday as jury selection began.
Not once did he look at the judge, respond to him, or acknowledge situations where he was requested to respond, as jurors were selected.
He spent most of the time inside the prisoner’s box with his eyes squinted shut.
Borutski also remained silent when asked to give a plea, which means he is by default pleading not guilty, while he remains unrepresented in the trial.
Two lawyers have been hired in the case for the purpose of fairness.
Patrick McCaan will cross examine witnesses who don’t feel comfortable being questions by Borutski in the trial, and James Foord is the Amicus Curae, or, “friend of the court,” to ensure a fair trial is carried out while the accused represents himself.
It’s expected the trial will start sometime this week, and will last 17 weeks.
