Yellowknife (May 04/05) - Nearly 900 people have been tabbed as potential jurors in the Justin Hai Van Vo murder case, expected to be one of the longest and most sensational murder trials in recent Yellowknife history.

Gerald Delorme is led into the Yellowknife courthouse in the summer of 2003 after being arrested in connection with the slaying of a reputed drug dealer.

The Multiplex arena will be converted into a temporary courthouse later this month in preparation for the trial.

Court officials expect some 300 people at the hockey arena when jury selection begins May 24.

Sheriff Colin McCluskie said many people have been unable to commit to the month-long trial, which meant his office had to issue hundreds of summons for the selection process.

Gerald Delorme is facing charges of murder and accessory to murder in connection with the June 2003 slaying of Van Vo.

Police discovered the charred remains of the reputed drug dealer near the Yellowknife River Bridge in June 2003.

Three others pleaded guilty

Three other men have admitted their role in the killing. Richard Tutin and Dale Coutoreillle each pleaded guilty to accessory to murder last fall and received 3.5 years in prison - minus 18 months credit for time they spent in pretrial custody.

Francis Yukon was sentenced to eight years in prison - minus three years pre-trial credit - after he pleaded guilty to manslaughter in early February.

A court-ordered publication ban was placed on the facts surrounding the case until jury selection is complete.

A voire-dire in the Delorme case began Monday where lawyers argued several issues in preparation for the trial. Those proceedings, expected to last several days, are also subject to a publication embargo.

Delorme has spent nearly two years in custody awaiting his trial, which is scheduled to begin in early June.