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3w ago

Juror Removed from Bellefeuille Trial Over OPP Cruiser Transport

Concerns about public perception of judicial impartiality led to the dismissal, not juror misconduct or lateness.

Alain Bellefeuille’s home at 2390 Laval St in Bourget. OPP Sgt. Eric Mueller’s death took place at the property on May 11, 2023.
Bellefeuille arriving at the L'Orignal courthouse in late March. Alain Bellefeuille is on trial for first-degree murder of OPP Sgt. Eric Mueller, which happened May 11, 2023 in the village of Bourget.
Three gunshot holes, two in the front window and one in the siding, were visible from the outside of the home.
Alain Bellefeuille has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and two counts of attempted murder in connection with the shooting of three OPP officers in 2023. He began testifying in his own defence Thursday.

Overview

  • Juror #4 in the Alain Bellefeuille trial was dismissed after being transported to court in a marked Ontario Provincial Police cruiser on May 9, 2025.
  • Justice Robert Wadden emphasized the decision was based on preserving public confidence in the court’s impartiality, not on any improper influence or misconduct by the juror.
  • The juror had failed to appear at the start of proceedings and was unreachable by phone, prompting an OPP officer to check on them and provide transport to the courthouse.
  • The trial, which began in early April 2025, has faced prior delays, including a week-long pause due to the judge’s ankle injury, and is set to resume on May 12.
  • Alain Bellefeuille has pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree murder and attempted murder stemming from the May 2023 shooting that killed Sgt. Eric Mueller during a wellness check in Bourget, Ontario.