MONTREAL -- A dozen jurors have been selected to hear evidence at Luka Rocco Magnotta's murder trial, leaving just four more spots to fill before the long-anticipated proceedings can get underway.
Magnotta, 32, has pleaded not guilty to five charges, including first-degree murder, in connection with the May 2012 slaying and dismemberment of Chinese engineering student Jun Lin, 33.
Five more jurors were added Thursday, meaning the jury currently has six men and six women.
The last two additions of the day were a male retiree who worked as a financial analyst and a woman who works in a call centre.
Earlier on Thursday, three other jurors were selected -- a female university employee, a male freelance translator and a man who teaches at a junior college.
All were sworn in and allowed to leave, with Justice Guy Cournoyer telling some of them he was hopeful the trial would begin sometime next week.
Meanwhile, the jury selection process will resume Friday and continue until 16 people have been picked -- 14 jurors and two alternates who will serve as a safeguard until the trial begins.
Ultimately, 14 jurors will hear the case and a dozen will deliberate on the final verdict.
The trial is expected to last between six and eight weeks.
While the trial proper has been scheduled to begin Monday, that start date could be delayed if the jury selection is not completed Friday.
Besides the murder charge, Magnotta has pleaded not guilty to committing an indignity to a body; publishing obscene material; criminally harassing Prime Minister Stephen Harper and other members of Parliament; and mailing obscene and indecent material.
