a jury found a youth guilty of second-degree murder of teenager jannai dopwell-bailey on tuesday.
there was a very long pause before the jury’s foreman announced the verdict at montreal’s youth courthouse. the jury had been deliberating since saturday morning.
the accused was found guilty even though the prosecution had to drop at least two of its witnesses during the trial. while the crown was about halfway through presenting its evidence, prosecutor simon robin informed quebec superior court justice annie émond that one witness could no longer be contacted and that another refused to testify because they had received threats.
robin told émond that the prosecution had no reason to suspect the accused was behind the threats.
the jury was never made aware that a witness had been threatened.
“dear jurors, while carrying your obligation as jurors over these past weeks, you have represented the people of canada in a most important civic duty. on their behalf, i would like to thank you for the care and attention you gave to this case,” quebec superior court justice annie émond said to the jury. “judging one’s fellow person is an awesome responsibility.”
jannai was 16 years old
when he was stabbed
outside his school in côte-des-neiges on oct. 18, 2021. he was stabbed in the parking lot outside coronation school on van horne ave. he attended an outreach high-school program in the basement of the primary school.