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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - The trial of the man accused of killing a Mountie in Hay River will be held in Yellowknife.

The jury trial for Emrah Bulatci of Alberta is set to begin in the Supreme Court of the NWT on Oct. 13, 2009, more than two years after an RCMP officer was shot and killed.

Emrah Bulatci

According to Crown prosecutor Christine Gagnon, Bulatci's trial will not be held in Hay River out of fairness to the accused.

"The Crown conceded that the defense would not be able to pick a jury that was impartial," Gagnon said, explaining that was because of the size of Hay River and the impact the murder had on the community.

Bulatci is charged with the shooting death of Const. Christopher Worden on Oct. 6, 2007.

Hay River Mayor Jean-Marc Miltenberger said he has not heard any concerns expressed by Hay River residents about the trial not being held in the community.

"I have full confidence in the justice system," Miltenberger said, adding holding the trial in Yellowknife is the system's way of ensuring a fair trial.

The mayor said Hay River residents already had an opportunity to learn more about the case when a preliminary inquiry was held in the community.

Though testimony at the preliminary inquiry in June could not be publicized, the proceedings were open to the public.

Hay River resident Michele Stephens said it would not have been possible to get an impartial jury in the community.

"It absorbed our town," Stephens said of the killing. "There wasn't one person that situation didn't touch."

She said Worden was well known and well liked both as an RCMP officer and a friend to many people.

Stephens also said having the trial in Hay River would not have been good for the community, adding the town was bothered when Bulatci was returned for the preliminary hearing.

"You could tell it was, just the fact that he was just here," she said, although she added everyone is innocent until proven guilty.

She said some people might believe the trial should be in Hay River, but there are other considerations such as cost and security.

"It comes down to being sensible," said Stephens, who is a member of a community-based crime prevention committee formed after Worden was killed.

Gagnon said there are not many details available on how the trial will proceed since it is 10 months away.

"Right now, we're still at the stage of pre-trial conferences," she said.

No special sittings are planned to take place in Hay River as of yet, according to Gagnon.

"Not right now," she said. "Nothing is set in stone."