Trial begins for Quebec man charged in death of political aide

A Quebec City jury of nine women and three men will begin hearing the case on Thursday of Francis Proulx, theman charged in the death of a provincial political aide last spring.

Proulx is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Nancy Michaud, a 37-year-old mother of two who worked for Natural Resources Minister Claude Bechard.

Jury selection ended Tuesday afternoon at the Quebec City courthouse. The jury consists of people ranging in agefrom 27 to 62.

Michaud went missing in the early hours of May 16, 2008, from her home in Rivire Ouelle, a village northeast of Quebec Cityinthe Lower St. Lawrence region.

Her husband couldn't find her when he came home late from work.The couple's two young children were still in the home, sleeping.

After two days of searching, police found Michaud's body in the basement of an abandoned house in another part of the town.

Proulx was arrested later the same day. The charges include first-degree murder,sexual assault and committing an indignity on a dead body.

Proulx and Michaud grew up in the same community and lived around the corner from each other.

Many residents, including Rivire Ouelle Mayor Roger Richard, were planning to make the 150-kilometre trip to Quebec City to watch the court proceedings.

The trial is expected to take six to eight weeks.