WATCH: It was a double murder that captured the hearts of many on the south island. Tuesday, the Oak Bay man charged with the murder of his two daughters will stand trial, but it won’t be here in Victoria. Kori Sidaway tells us why.
On Christmas Day 2017, a double murder rocked the Oak Bay community to its core.
“It was shocking, it was a quiet night,” said neighbor Chris-Ann Lake on December 26, 2017, to CHEK News.
“I was doing my laundry of all things on Christmas when I went down to to the main floor, and I just wasn’t allowed. In that moment I was like what’s going on, it’s Christmas!”
“To hear that this has happened right here in my neighborhood is kind of scary,” said another Oak Bay resident.
The bodies of sisters Chloe and Aubrey Berry were found in their father Andrew Berry’s Beach Drive apartment.
Berry is charged with two counts of second-degree murder in his four and six-year-old daughter’s deaths. His trial, however, starts Tuesday not in Victoria, but in Vancouver.
“We don’t try in Canada try to find jurors that know nothing about a case,” said criminal lawyer Michael Mulligan, explaining jury selection.
“What we are endeavoring to find are people who would have an open mind and act fairly.”
But this high profile double murder came with intense media coverage.
And a Victoria judge ruled that finding an impartial jury in the capital regional district would be impossible.
“You will see, occasionally, cases like this one moved to a different jurisdiction to ensure there’s a fair trial,” added Mulligan.
Video from the Vancouver courtroom, however, will be streamed to Victoria’s courthouse for the public to view.
“That idea of streaming it here so people could watch it in the courtroom is a very good and creative way to address the public’s desire to see what goes on during the trial,” said Mulligan.
CHEK News reached out to the family for comment, but are following crown counsel’s advice to avoid speaking to the media at any point during the trial.
Berry pleaded not guilty to the charges and remains in custody before he stands trial Tuesday.
The trial is expected to last several weeks.
Kori Sidaway
