Sick Juror, Walkout Delay Dooley Trial (National Post)

By Christie Blatchford
Originally published in the National Post, April 12, 2002

TORONTO — The long-running Randal Dooley murder case, slated to go to the jury next week, was delayed yesterday when a juror fell ill—and then again when Mr. Justice Eugene Ewaschuk couldn't convene court to discuss the juror's situation because of a walkout by support workers.

The case, which has taken almost four years to get to trial, is in its final stages. This week, prosecutor Rita Zaied and defence lawyer Mara Greene, who represents Randal's accused father Tony Dooley, addressed jurors for the last time.

Damien Frost, the lawyer for Marcia Dooley, who is also charged with second-degree murder in the Sept. 25, 1998, beating death of the little boy, had been scheduled to make his closing argument yesterday. But shortly after the lawyers learned of the juror's sudden illness, the court reporter—who transcribes every word of the proceedings and without whom the case cannot go on—joined her colleagues from other courtrooms in walking off the job.

The reporters and other support staff are among those members of the striking Ontario Public Service Employees Union deemed ''essential'' by the Ontario government.

They have continued to work throughout the union's almost five-week-long strike, but walked out yesterday over missed pay-cheques.

Most of the reporters are not full-time employees, but contract workers, and are also responsible for providing and maintaining the expensive equipment they need.

The trial is to resume today, but it is unclear if it will proceed.