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Sawyer murder trial adjourned to January

Dec 12, 2018 | 12:46 PM

The trial for a man charged in a fatal stabbing in north Red Deer three years ago is stretching into the new year.

Daniel Boyd Sawyer, 34, is charged with second degree murder in the Nov. 18, 2015 stabbing death of Alan Beach outside a pub in north Red Deer.

The trial got underway on Nov. 15 in Red Deer Court of Queen’s Bench but has seen extensive delays in order to allow for voir dire hearing to be held.

Often described as a “trial within a trial,” voir dire hearings determine the admissibility of certain pieces of evidence. The jury is not present for these hearings.