Pair accused of manslaughter to elect mode of trial next week

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — Two people facing manslaughter charges have had their hearings to elect their mode of trial postponed.

Dyllon Cazes (born in 1993) and Ethan Dore (born in 2000) — alongside a third individual — were arrested in late June following the death of a person in the parking lot of Fort St. John Alliance Church.

Police responded after the man was found unresponsive in the parking lot, and later pronounced dead at the scene on June 24th.

All three people who were arrested were charged with manslaughter, which is an indictable offence — a serious time with a lengthy maximum penalty, in this case life imprisonment.

People accused of indictable offences have the right to decide whether they wish to be tried by a provincial or supreme court judge. 

If they elect to be tried in the supreme court, they can also decide whether they wish for a jury to be present.

Cazes and Dore have yet to elect their mode of trial. A hearing for that purpose was scheduled for Monday, October 20th, but Court Services Online (CSO) indicates that hearing was adjourned by the defence.

As a result, their hearing to elect their modes of trial will now be held on Monday, October 27th. 

Meanwhile, the third person arrested and charged alongside Cazes and Dore — Katlin Cota, born in 1988 — has elected to be tried by a supreme court judge sitting without a jury.

Cota’s next court date is on November 17th to schedule their trial.