Tim Bosma trial: Frequently asked questions on jury deliberations

The jury at the trial of two men accused of killing Hamilton's Tim Bosma is entering its fifth day of deliberations, with no sign of a verdict yet.

The Crown alleges Millard, 30, of Toronto, and Smich, 28, of Oakville, Ont., shot and incinerated Bosma, 32, who lived in the suburban Ancaster area of Hamilton. Both have pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder.

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CBC Hamilton reporter Adam Carter has been in the courtroom each day, and many people have reached out to him on Twitter and by email asking questions about the trial.

Here are his answers to your most frequently asked questions about the deliberations.

1. What are the jury's hours each day?

They begin deliberating at 9:30 a.m. each morning, and go until 8:30 p.m. in the evening, with breaks for lunch and dinner.

2. Can they continue deliberating into the weekend?

Yes, deliberations will continue until they reach a verdict.

3. If they reach a verdict on the weekend, will it be read then or on Monday?

It would be read on the weekend.

4. Where does the jury deliberate?

In their jury room, inside the courthouse.

5. How much advance warning will we have of a verdict?

Court staff have said they will give an hour's notice of a verdict. I'll notify everyone as soon as word comes down.

6. Will you live blog/tweet the verdict?

Yes.

7.Is the Bosma family and their supporters waiting at the courthouse?

Yes, they are. They're passing the time talking, reading, and playing cards. Generally, they're in as good spirits as can be expected.

8. Where are the accused held while this is going on?

Millard and Smich are in holding cells at the courthouse, waiting in case there is a verdict or a question from the jury. At night, they return to jail.

9. Are you covering the Laura Babcock/Wayne Millard trials?

That hasn't been determined.

10. Does the jury all have to agree on the same verdict?

The verdict has to be unanimous, but the jury doesn't have to agree on the exact route to Bosma's death.

11. What happens if the jury can come to a verdict on one accused, but not the other?

They would deliver the verdict on one accused, but be a hung jury on the other. The accused they couldn't decide on would be tried again on his own.

12. How long will this take?

It's impossible to know. There's no formula for this sort of thing.

adam.carter@cbc.ca