Justin Campbell was in the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador in Corner Brook on Monday, Oct. 27, 2025, as the jury that will hear his first-degree murder trial was selected. Diane Crocker/THE TELEGRAMArticle contentA jury of 14 people and two alternates was selected in Corner Brook on Monday, Oct. 27, as the trial of a Deer Lake man accused of killing his grandmother began.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentJustin Campbell, 35, was in the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador as the jury was selected.Article contentArticle contentIt’s alleged that Campbell murdered his grandmother, Eva Banfield, sometime between Aug. 30 and Sept. 7, 2023. Banfield was 69 at the time of her death.Article contentArticle contentCampbell was arrested by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police on Sept. 9, 2023, and has been in custody since then. He was committed to stand trial on the first-degree murder charge on Sept. 5, 2024.Article content Justin Campbell. Diane Crocker/THE TELEGRAMArticle contentHe entered a not guilty plea to that charge, and to one of theft over $5,000 for allegedly stealing money from Banfield, when he was arraigned in the Supreme Court on Sept. 16, 2024.Article contentNormally, a jury consists of 12 people, but with Campbell’s trial expected to last four weeks, Justice Thomas Johnson felt it was in the best interests of the trial process to select 14 people.Article contentThat way, he said, the court can ensure that a full jury is available when deliberations begin.Article contentHe said the law only permits 12 jurors to deliberate, and he will reduce the jury to 12 before the deliberations begin by drawing numbers.Article contentJohnson also ordered that two alternate jurors be selected. If the full jury is still present and available when the hearing of evidence begins, then the two alternates will be dismissed.Article contentArticle contentThe jury is comprised of eight women and six men. Their identities are protected by a publication ban.Article contentPublication bans are also in place on the reporting on the trial when the jury is not present and on any evidence heard at Campbell’s preliminary inquiry in the provincial court. Both are in place until the jury completes its deliberations and the trial ends.Article content Justin Campbell is accused of killing his grandmother, Eva Banfield, in Deer Lake in 2023. Diane Crocker/THE TELEGRAMArticle contentThe court summoned 250 people to appear for the jury selection, with 88 attending in person. Some of those summoned had been previously exempted from serving on the jury, and some were unaccounted for at the start of the proceedings.Article contentOf the 88 who attended, 64 were selected through a random draw of numbers to stand for the jury.Article contentIn order of how they were drawn, each potential juror was asked if there was any reason for them to be disqualified from serving on the jury or if there was a reason for them to be exempt.Article contentFifty-nine of the 64 were questioned by Johnson before the 14 jurors and two alternates were selected.Article contentIt took just over two hours and 45 minutes for the jury to be selected, and then Johnson dismissed them until 2:30 p.m. When court resumed, Johnson gave the jury instructions on their duties, the process of the trial and an explanation of the rules of law.Article contentThe Crown will give its opening address and begin calling witnesses on Tuesday, Oct. 28 at 10 a.m.Article contentThe Crown is expected to call 19 witnesses, including several RCMP officers, as part of its case.Article content
Jury will begin hearing evidence Oct. 28 in murder trial of Deer Lake man accused of killing grandmother
