Headline News

Borutski trial delayed

September 21, 2017

By Sarah Sobanski

The trial for a man charged with killing three Renfrew County women has been rescheduled for October.

It’s been two years since the murder spree that killed Wilno’s Anastasia Kuzyk, 36, Foymount’s Nathalie Warmerdam, 48, and 66-year-old Carol Culleton of Combermere.

Basil Borutski, 59, will face trial for three counts of first-degree murder in Ottawa after a jury is chosen.

According to Crown attorney Jeffery Richardson, the selection process will take three to four days starting Oct. 2. The trial could run to the end January. Justice Robert Maranger is presiding.

Borutski will represent himself in the trial, Richardson said. He’ll be assisted by two lawyers. Patrick McCann has been appointed to cross-examine two witnesses. James Foord has also been appointed as a friend of the court for Borutski. Richardson said Foord’s role has been expanded to allow him to cross-examine witnesses.

Several media reports state that up to 125 witnesses could be called to the witness box during the trial, however, Richardson said it is unlikely the Crown will get to that many.

Crown attorney Julie Scott will be prosecuting the case alongside Richardson.

Borutski was arrested by police after a five-hour manhunt throughout the Ottawa Valley. It began after Kuzyk was found shot dead in a Wilno residence just before 9 a.m. Sept. 22, 2015.

Information discovered during the investigation of Kuzyk’s death led police to a residence on Foymount Road where they found the body of Warmerdam. At approximately 11:10 a.m., police then discovered the third victim, Culleton at a location on Kamaniskeg Lake Road just south of Barry’s Bay.

Various media has reported that Borutski has not entered a plea. Without this, the court has defaulted to a not guilty plea.   

Borutski’s trial was originally set to start Sept. 18.

With files from Nate Smelle

         

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