2016-05-02 Second-row seats at Travis Vader trial offer good view of legal system | CBC News
Published by Bretton McCann,
The Travis Vader murder trial is now beginning week nine of testimony.
On any given day, in courtroom 611, there are at least 20 people in the gallery. Most have some "skin in the game." There are journalists, McCann family members and Vader supporters.
But the two women in the second row, seated just behind the jury box filled with trial exhibits, are in a category all their own.
Shirley Huston, 75, and Sue Ferguson, 70, have monitored almost every day of the trial. They're curious and dedicated spectators with no vested interest in the outcome of the case, one way or the other.
The two have been friends for two decades, and every year they try to pick one high-profile trial and monitor it from start to finish.
The chairs where the jury normally sits are covered with exhibits entered as evidence at the trial. (Terry Reith/CBC)
Ferguson said it began in 2008 when she took a Minerva seniors studies course about the legal system that included a trip to the courthouse.
"It kind of got the bug started, I think," Ferguson said.
Around that same time, a high-profile murder trial was about to begin. Ferguson convinced Hughson to sit through the three-month Thomas Svekla case. He was accused of killing a pair of sex-trade workers, and was ultimately convicted of one murder.
"I go to watch the judicial system in progress, and to sort of assure myself that it's being properly done," Huston said. "And that we live in a fair society where justice can prevail."
Some friends think it's 'cool'
The women believe most people don't know courtrooms are open to the public.
"In fact, when I tell people we're doing this, they're shocked that we are able to do it," Huston said.
Some friends think it's "cool" that they sit in on court cases. Others are horrified they expose themselves to the world of crime and murder.
"There's also those who say, 'Why would you even be part of it?' Ferguson said. 'Why would you want to sit through that? Why would you want to listen to it?' "
"There is that," said Huston, who admitted she has rearranged her life and rescheduled appointments to take in the Vader trial.
"Not that it's a big deal having to do that," she said. "But it means that I am very interested in it and I want to be there to hear what's happening."
"It isn't like we have much else to do!" Ferguson added with a laugh.
It doesn't bother the two women to be in the same room with an accused killer, but they've noticed clear differences between this trial and the one for Thomas Svekla.
"I think what fascinates me is because, with Svekla, he was in custody," Ferguson said. "They'd bring him in and he'd stay in the prisoner's box. And that's kind of what you expect. This one (Vader) surprises me in that he's just strolling around, eating lunch in the cafeteria, just like you and I. So that, for me, is a new experience as well."
Hughson admitted she even had a conversation with Vader one day about the weather when they were both going through courthouse security at the same time.
'You can't solve crimes in an hour'
They two friends pay close attention to media coverage of the Vader trial.
"In fact, I'm recording all the news every day now," Huston said.
After a long day in court, they still go home and do their own Internet research on the case. And they still love to watch crime programs on TV.
"We've done quite a few forensic courses as well," Huston said. "So we kind of take all the TV stuff with a grain of salt, because we've spent time in a forensic lab at the university."
Watching a real trial, they say, is nothing like all those TV courtroom dramas.
"I think the thing that still surprises us is that it moves very slowly," Huston said. "There is a great deal of time that appears to be wasted. So, for anybody thinking they'd like to attend, be patient. Because it isn't always a fast process. You can't solve crimes in an hour."