By Karen Sweeney, Aap
A trial for accused double police killer Jason Roberts has derailed before prosecutors even finished opening their case.
Roberts, 41, is accused of murdering Victoria Police officers Sergeant Gary Silk and Senior Constable Rodney Miller in August 1998.
The officers were staking out a series of armed robberies across Melbourne’s south and eastern suburbs when they were shot and killed.
Roberts, of Cranbourne, pleaded guilty to 10 charges of armed robbery and not guilty to two charges of murder.
A trial before Justice Stephen Kaye opened in Victoria’s Supreme Court on Tuesday before a jury of 15.
But the entire jury was discharged on Thursday after two jurors suffered “health-related issues”.
Dismissing just the two jurors would have left only 13 for the remainder of the trial, due to last four months, leaving little room for other jurors who might become unwell to be discharged.
“I have absolutely no option but to do that,” Justice Kaye said of the decision.
