Luka Magnotta is shown in an artist's sketch at the Montreal courthouse on Sept. 8, 2014.GRAHAM HUGHES/The Canadian Press
The justice system moved quicker than expected on Tuesday as the first five jurors were selected to hear the murder trial of Luka Rocco Magnotta.
While the court had expressed concern the process would be a lengthy one given the bilingualism prerequisite, all involved said they were pleasantly surprised by how quickly it went on Day 1.
The Crown prosecutor in the case expressed confidence at the end of the day that a jury could be selected by week's end.
Magnotta, 32, has pleaded not guilty to five charges, including first-degree murder, in connection with the May 2012 slaying and dismemberment of Jun Lin, 33, a Chinese engineering student.
The five jurors include three women and two men. They include a cleaning company worker, an auto-parts analyst, a stockbroker, a web developer and an assistant manager at a telecommunications office.
All five were immediately sworn in by Justice Guy Cournoyer and read a set of rules by which they were bound. They are forbidden from discussing the case with anyone outside of the jury and must refrain from researching it or discussing it online themselves.
Questions were asked of the jurors to assess their impartiality and bilingualism.
The process will continue until 16 people have been picked — 14 jurors and two alternates who will serve as a safeguard in case problems with any of the 14 arise along the way.
Ultimately, 14 jurors will hear the case and a dozen will deliberate on a final verdict.
The trial, which is expected to last between six and eight weeks, is set to begin hearing evidence on Sept. 22 but could be delayed because of the jury selection.
Tuesday's proceedings marked the first time Magnotta hadn't appeared in a high-security courtroom.
Instead, the selection was done in a regular courtroom to make it easier for him to talk to his lawyer.
While the trial will take place mostly in English, many witnesses will testify in French.
Hundreds of potential jurors received exemptions last week, primarily because they said they were not proficient enough in both languages.
Besides the murder charge, Magnotta has pleaded not guilty to committing an indignity to a body; publishing obscene material; criminally harassing Prime Minister Stephen Harper and other members of Parliament; and mailing obscene and indecent material.