Told there was a legal issue that had to be resolved without them present, jurors at the Michael Ball murder trial were sent home early Monday.
The trial had resumed after a one-week break.
Before the legal matter came up, jurors heard defence lawyer Brennan Smart outline what he termed a “risky” strategy he planned to use to defend his client.
Smart said that he would call a number of witnesses who were “antagonistic” to his client.
He told the jury that even if the witnesses didn’t like his client, they would help them understand exactly what Erin Howlett was doing in her last days, and who was in her orbit at the time.
Ball is charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death of Howlett, whose remains were found in a duffel bag in the Grand River in July 2013.
He has pleaded not guilty.
