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The high-profile trial of a Saskatchewan man accused of killing his estranged wife has been delayed due to COVID-19 concerns, just days before it was to begin in Saskatoon.
In a document released Friday, Justice Richard Danyliuk said the judge-alone trial of Greg Fertuck — which was to start Monday in Saskatoon Court of Queen’s Bench and run for up to five weeks — could not go on as scheduled.
Danyliuk pushed the start date to Sept. 7.
“The difficulty in proceeding as scheduled flows from COVID-19 and, in particular, the spike in COVID-19 variant cases in the Regina area as well as the health directives strongly discouraging travel,” Danyliuk wrote.
“It is anticipated that over the next five weeks numerous witnesses, perhaps a dozen or more, would have to attend personally from Regina to testify in this case.”
Fertuck is charged with first-degree murder and offering an indignity to human remains in connection with the death of his estranged wife, Sheree.
The 51-year-old woman, a mother of three, was last seen Dec. 7, 2015 when she left her family farm near Kenaston in a gravel truck.
The truck was found abandoned at a nearby gravel pit, with Fertuck’s keys, jacket and cellphone still inside. Her body hasn’t been found.
Danyliuk said he held a conference call Friday with counsel and with Greg Fertuck. The defence asked for an adjournment — agreeing to waive any effects caused by the delay under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms — but the Crown wanted to proceed with the trial.
The justice said to ignore the risks presented by COVID and to go ahead would be “foolhardy.”
“After fully reviewing this matter, I have concluded that in these unique circumstances there is no prudent choice other than to grant the defence request to adjourn this trial in its entirety,” Danyliuk wrote.
“I understand fully the difficulty caused by such an adjournment, but the safety of the people of Saskatchewan requires it.”
While some court proceedings have been handled remotely during the pandemic, Danyliuk ruled it was not possible in this case.
“I have already ordered that numerous witnesses may testify remotely via video link, but there are key Crown witnesses for whom personal attendance is required to ensure a fair trial,” he wrote.