Kirk Keeping's trial — delayed for years — pushed back another week
Kirk Keeping, seen here appearing in court by video in May 2023, is charged with first-degree murder. (CBC)
It's been nearly four years since Kirk Keeping was first slated to stand trial for first-degree murder in the killing of Chantal John, and now her family will have to wait once again.
The courtroom was full of potential jurors on Monday morning in Grand Falls-Windsor, when it was announced his trial was pushed back another week due to ongoing legal developments.
Jury selection has now been set for April 15.
John was killed in January 2019, in her home community of Conne River. She was a member of Miawpukek First Nation. Keeping, of St. Jacques-Coombs Cove, was her ex-boyfriend.
The trial was slated for six weeks, and has been on the books for years. Keeping, now 40, was first slated to stand trial in May 2021, but was delayed when Keeping fired his legal aid lawyers, Derek Ford and Derek Hogan, minutes before the start of jury selection.
Keeping told the court at the time that he didn't have confidence in his lawyers and that they hadn't spent enough time with him leading up to the trial.
There were several more delays as Keeping attempted to get the provincial government to pay for his counsel of his choice. That final appeal was denied in November, with the reasoning shielded by a court-ordered publication ban on pre-trial evidence.
When delays are caused by the accused in a criminal matter, the time does not count toward what is called the Jordan rule — which states a case must go to trial within 30 months or the charges are stayed.
Members of the Miawpukek First Nation in Conne River have expressed anger and frustration by the delays.
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