Python deaths: Jean-Claude Savoie elects jury trial

The owner of an African python that killed two boys in Campbellton in 2013 has elected to be tried by judge and jury.

Jean-Claude Savoie, 38,did not appear in Campbellton provincial court onMonday before Judge Steven M. Hutchinson. Defence lawyer Leslie Matchimelected the mode of trial on Savoie'sbehalf.

A preliminary hearing was requested by Matchim. Ithas been scheduled for Nov. 24-27in Campbellton provincial court.

Matchim said outside the courtroom thatif Savoieis ordered to stand trial following the preliminary hearing, it may be a challenge to find jury members who are not familiar with the case.

"There is no question the case has received a lot of media attention really everywhere, but certainly here in Campbellton," Matchim said to reporters.

"It would be very hard to find someone who hasn't heard of the case," he said. "I'm sure that the judge in presiding over the selection of the jury will be a little more rigorous than simply, 'Have you heard of it?' There will be a deeper inquiry than that."

The defence has the option of requesting a change of venue from the court, but Machimsaid "at present we are not looking at pursuing that."

Ian Comeau, the deputy mayor of Campbellton, says everyone in the community has been touched by the tragedy.

"A lot of people were touched, both sides you know," he said.

Savoiewas charged with criminal negligence causing death on March 30. A conviction of criminal negligence causing death carries a maximum life sentence.

Connor Barthe, 6, and Noah Barthe, 4, were killed while they slept by the large snake, which escaped its enclosure in an apartment above the Reptile Ocean pet store. The boys were asphyxiated.

Savoie is the former owner of the pet store and lived in the apartment above the store.

Officials with the New Brunswick Department of Natural Resources have said Reptile Ocean was an unlicensed zoo and pet store.

Matchimexpects the case to take a while to play out in the courts.

"There is no question that a case of this magnitude will take some time."

Matchimsaid "it is a difficult thing [for Savoie] to endure this."

"It helps, of course, that he's a little bit outside of the area and out of the limelight, but he keeps in contact with a number of friends locally. There's no question he would like this whole nightmare to be behind him."

The maternal and paternal grandparents of the Barthe brothers were in court. They did not wish to speak with reporters.