Hundreds of potential jurors packed multiple Edmonton courtrooms Monday morning ahead of the trial of the man accused in a pair of vehicle attacks in 2017.
Abdulahi Hasan Sharif is accused attacking Edmonton police officer Mike Chernyk and striking four pedestrians with a speeding vehicle on Sept. 30 of that year.
He is charged with 11 offences, including five counts of attempted murder and four of flight from a peace officer causing bodily harm, as well as single counts of aggravated assault and dangerous driving.
Two years to the day later, Sharif entered pleas of not guilty to each charge. An interpreter seated next to Sharif translated the proceedings into Somali as a court clerk read the charges aloud during an arraignment.
More than 500 people were called as potential jurors, enough to fill three courtrooms. Fourteen were selected over the course of the morning and early afternoon.
The trial is scheduled to run six weeks, beginning Wednesday and concluding Nov. 8. More than 40 people are expected to be called as witnesses.
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