'You are the judges in this case': Jury trial underway in death of Windsor mom, under pandemic modifications
The jury trial of a man accused in the death of Autumn Taggart, 31, has started in Windsor’s Superior Court.
Jitesh Bhogal, 31, is standing trial on a single charge of first degree murder.
After pleading not guilty, Bhogal elected to be tried by a judge and jury.
In her charge to the jury, Justice Renee Pomerance said, “You are the judges in this case.”
This is the first jury trial in Windsor since the pandemic began, and it has changed how the court operates.
The gallery seating in the rear of Courtroom 1, where the public usually sits, is now where the jury sits in physically distant chairs.
The accused sits in what used to be the Jury Box, directly behind his lawyers.
The assistant crown attorneys, Ilana Mizel and Kim Bertholet sit directly opposite defence lawyers Peter Thorning and his associate.
Courtroom 2 is used as a jury room for them when they are not expected in court, for breaks and that is where they will deliberate at the end of the evidence.
The proceedings are broadcast via Zoom into two overflow courtrooms for the Taggart family, the public and the media.
In her opening statement, Bertholet laid out a “roadmap” for the evidence the jury can expect to hear.
The Crown alleges Autumn Taggart was sexually assaulted and the accused caused her death.
Bertholet says their evidence will describe how Bhogal entered Windsor via Detroit early in the morning of June 10, 2018 to buy drugs.
Bhogal, and two Windsorites, were parked behind Taggart’s apartment building, doing “a few lines of cocaine placed on the console” of Bhogals’ vehicle.
The two Windsorites left the vehicle and took the drugs Bhogal purchased, according to Bertholet.
Court heard Taggart’s nine-year-old son Gavin was in the apartment at the time of incident, and he told police “a man” entered his room and told him to be quiet.
Court heard the young boy couldn’t wake his mother later that evening, so he called his father, who discovered Taggart’s body.
Bertholet says a pathologist will testify Taggart died of suffocation and neck compression and that she suffered injuries to her genital area which are consistent with “forceful penetration.”
The Crown says swabs were taken from Taggart’s body, and a scientist will testify Bhogal cannot be excluded as a DNA match from samples taken from Taggart’s “breasts, mouth, genitals and under her fingernails” according to Bertholet.
The Crown says Bhogal returned to the United States early the same morning of June 10, 2018.
Bertholet says the Crown will be calling 30 witnesses over the course of the eight-week trial.
The first witness is set to testify Tuesday starting at 10 a.m.
Correction
Note: Court heard the young boy couldn’t wake his mother later that evening, not in the morning as CTV News indicated in the previous version of this article.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Person on fire outside Trump's hush money trial rushed away on a stretcher
A person who was on fire in a park outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump’s hush money trial is taking place has been rushed away on a stretcher.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
Vicious attack on a dog ends with charges for northern Ont. suspect
Police in Sault Ste. Marie charged a 22-year-old man with animal cruelty following an attack on a dog Thursday morning.
Senators reject field trip to African Lion Safari amid elephant bill study
The Senate legal affairs committee has rejected a motion calling for members to take a $50,000 field trip to the African Lion Safari in southern Ontario to see the zoo's elephant exhibit.
DEVELOPING G7 warns of new sanctions against Iran as world reacts to apparent Israeli drone attack
Group of Seven foreign ministers warned of new sanctions against Iran on Friday for its drone and missile attack on Israel, and urged both sides to avoid an escalation of the conflict.
Police in Paris detain a man wearing fake explosives vest at Iran's Consulate
A man wearing a fake explosive vest and making threats was detained Friday outside the Iranian Consulate in Paris after police locked down the area, authorities said. His motive was unclear.
CFIA monitoring for avian flu in Canadian dairy cattle after U.S. discoveries
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is encouraging veterinarians to keep an eye out for signs of avian influenza in dairy cattle following recent discoveries of cases of the disease in U.S. cow herds.