The murder trial for Noelle Paquette is set to be held in Windsor, starting in April 2016.
The decision was made yesterday, following a decision that was made last week to move the trial of Michael MacGregor, 21, and Tanya Bogdanovich, 33, away from Paquette’s hometown.
Both MacGregor and Bogdanovich are charged with first-degree murder in death of the 27-year-old school teacher.
Paquette’s body was found in a wooded area outside of Sarnia, after she was last spotted leaving a New Year’s Eve party in downtown Sarnia.
Reports say several reasons played into Superior Court Justice Bruce Thomas’ decision to move the trial, including:
– The publicity surrounding the case
– The background of MacGregor and Bogdanovich
– Community support for Paquette – including “Noelle’s Gift” a charity that has raised over $400,000 for underprivileged kid’s in her memory
– And security deficiencies at the Sarnia courthouse
Superior Court Justice Thomas Heeney made the decision to hold the trial in Windsor.
The large urban area for jury selection and a large distance away from Sarnia were factors that played into Heeney’s decision, reports say.
The pre-trial motions, that are scheduled to be heard throughout the year and into 2016, will be held at the Elgin County courthouse in St. Thomas.
