A double-murder trial in Barrie that was delayed by two days after the revelation that a witness had tested positive for COVID-19 will resume in person on Wednesday.
“We will proceed tomorrow,” Justice Vanessa Christie announced during a brief hearing update this morning.
Dyrrin Daley was to begin the second week of his trial Monday on charges of first- and second-degree murder in connection to the deaths of 19-year-old Nickolas Pasowisty and his 51-year-old father, James Pasowisty, when COVID concerns interfered.
Barrie police confirmed an officer who testified last week contracted the virus while on the job the previous Sunday.
Christie announced that she had received negative results after testing, as had the prosecutors and defence attorney James Harbic.
Harbic said he was unsuccessful in having Daley tested, but said his client feels well and is content to continue with the trial.
And although Christie confirmed that court staff all indicated they were comfortable proceeding with an in-person hearing on Wednesday, the judge emphasized that no one should feel pressured to continue.
“This doesn’t need to be the end of this discussion,” said Christie, adding she’s satisfied with the protection measures taken in the courtroom and that they are being respected. “If anything changes and you have concerns, I want you to bring that to my attention.”
Harbic is scheduled to begin his cross-examination Wednesday of the identification officer who took photos and evidence of the Allandale apartment in which the father and son were found dead.
