Prince George, B,.C. – The jury in the  multiple murder trial of Cody Alan Legebokoff  has started its deliberations.

The jury must decide if  the 24 year old is guilty of murder in the deaths of Jill Stuchenko, Cynthia Maas, Natasha Montgomery and Loren Donn Leslie.

If they  determine  he is guilty of murder, the 8 men and four women must then decide  if  it is second degree or first degree.

The requirement for a first degree conviction  rests on  the jury reaching a unanimous decision in each count, that the murder was planned and deliberate, committed during the course of a sexual assault or attempted sexual assault, or that he was a party that aided  another in the commission of first degree murder.

Before the jury  could retire,  Justice Glen Parrett had to trim two members from the jury.  He had  started the trial with 14 jury members, but only 12 are allowed to deliberate. He explained to the jury  that in the case of a lengthy trial,  anything can happen, and having the extra two people on the jury allowed  the  trial to have a “cushion” in the event of unforeseen circumstances.

The numbers for each and every juror were placed in a box, and two  numbers  drawn.  The  move resulted in two men being  excused from the jury.

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