Trial for accused in Tiki Laverdiere killing could pose logistical nightmare for courts

The number of people now charged in connection with the death of Tiki Laverdierecould create a logistical nightmare for the courts.

Seven people are now implicated in the Edmonton woman's death. In May, Laverdiere disappeared while attending a funeral in North Battleford. Her body was discovered outside that cityin July.

Five of those seven are charged with first-degree murder. RCMP say they are still investigating and there could be more suspects arrested.

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Saskatoon defence lawyer Mark Brayford knows all about the issues that come with large trials.

In the early 1980s, he was involved in a trial in North Battlefordin which eight people were accused of murder.

He saideverything becomes exponentially more complicated with that number of people involved,starting with where to actually hold the trial.

"Just the size of the group was such that it wouldn't physically fit in the Battlefords Queen's Bench courthouse so the case, a large part of it, took place in the United Church," he said.

He says that trial became a drawn out affair, lasting a full month.

"Any time you're dealing with multiplying everything by eight, one can imagine themagnitude," he said.

"For instance, every single witness gets cross-examined by eight separate counsel for the eight accused," he said.

Nine different sets of lawyers could potentially be involved in the jury selection process, he pointed out. Findinga time when all the lawyers are available will bepart of the challenge, Brayford said.

There is no date setor location named, for the trials of the accused in the Laverdiere case.