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Jury duty coming for Cranbrook residents

A man accused in a series of home invasions elected a Supreme Court trial by judge and jury.

Cranbrook residents may soon be called upon to form a jury panel, after a man accused in a series of home invasions elected a Supreme Court trial by judge and jury.

Andrew Daryl James Monnette appeared via video in Cranbrook Provincial Court on Monday, June 30.

His lawyer Jeremy Jensen told the court that Monnette has chosen for his case to be heard by a judge and jury in Cranbrook Supreme Court, and in the meantime Monnette consents to remain in jail.

Monnette is facing 23 charges in connection with two home invasions in Cranbrook in December 2013.

Those charges include: break and enter, disguising the face, use of a firearm, uttering threats, and robbery.

Monnette is one of four people charged in connection with the incidents.

In April, Megan Wynter Sands and Terrence Albert Allan were sentenced to five years and eight years respectively for their role in the two home invasions.

In May, Jay Leonard Hills was sentenced to four years' jail for his role in one of the home invasions.

All three pleaded guilty to some of the charges and did not proceed to trial.

On Monday, Judge Ron Webb transferred the case to Supreme Court at the request of the defense, and the prosecution and defense agreed that a trial covering 22 of the charges is likely to take five days. The trial for a remaining, separate charge of robbery is expected to take two days.

Monnette's case will appear in Cranbrook Supreme Court on August 18 at 2 p.m. to fix a date for the two jury trials.