For Montreal mother of slain teen, waiting for justice adds to shock, pain

It's been more than two years since Marlne Dufresne's17-year-old daughter Gabrielle was found dead in a motel in Montreal's east end.

The teen and her then 18-year-old boyfriend, Jonathan Mahautire, were outcelebrating her high school graduation when she was killed.

She had hoped to become a nurse.

Mahautire's trial for Gabrielle Dufresne-lie's second-degree murder is still months away.

As it has for manyfamilies in Quebec and across the country, the backlog in the criminal justice systemhas added to Dufresne's emotional toll.

"It's almost like there's no end," she said in an interview.

"It's too much."

Called to serve as juror at alleged killer's trial

A staggeringmix-up last monthmade things even more painful for Dufresne.

• Quebec to hire new judges, prosecutors to address backlog in justice system

She received a summons to serve on the jury atMahautire'strial. The request was dropped after she called the Crownprosecutor's office in shock.

A trial date could be set at Mahautire's nextcourt appearance on Dec. 14. Dufresne is hoping that, after multiple delays,the trial will go forwardin February or March of next year.

Canadians deserve a system that is far more accessible and efficient.- Senate report on legal delays

It has already been morethan 30 months since charges were laid,raising the concern the accusedcould apply for a stay of proceedings under a Supreme Court judgmentthis summer outlining what constitutes a reasonable delay in the justice system.

The high court ruled thatthe time between when an accused is charged andtheconclusion of that person'strial should be no more than 18 months in a provincial court case or a maximumof30 months if there is a preliminary hearing or if the case is heard by aSuperior Court.

Mahautire'slawyer,Marie-HlneGiroux, told CBC News she had no comment on her legal strategy in the case.

She is the third lawyer to representMahautire, having taken over the case last month.

Situation is critical, Senate report says

Regardless of whether Giroux seeksa stay of proceedings for her client due to unreasonable delays, the lengthy wait time has added to Dufresne'ssorrow and pointsof a larger problem playing out in overburdened courts across the country.

A Senate committee reportreleased inAugust 2016found that the median time from the laying of a charge to a case's final disposition was 451 days for a homicide case, 321 days for a case of sexual assaultand 314 days for an attempted murder case.

"The situation is critical," the report states.

"Canadians deserve a system that is far more accessible and efficient."

The delayscreateother uncertainties for victims and their families, too.InDufresne'scase, she has booked off timefrom herjob as a blue collar worker with the City of Montreal in anticipation of a trialonly to see the datepushed back.

NancyRoy, who representsa Quebec-based victimsadvocacy group, said the emotional and financial strainof a long court process compounds the tragedy of losing a loved one.

"Their life needs to be readjusted each time they get ready for the trial," said Roy, general manager of the Association desfamillesdepersonnesassassinesoudisparues.

"They are forced to revisit the tragedy each time."

Quebec promises hires, influx of cash

In an attempt to address the province's case backlog,the Quebec government announced detailsWednesday of a four-year, $175.2-million plan.

The province said it will hire nearly two dozen new judges, as well as 69 more Crown prosecutors and 114 support staff.

The changes will allow the province to handle 10,000 additional cases a year, Justice MinisterStphanieValle said.

In addition to the influx of cash, Vallesaid there's a need for a "culture shift" within the justice system.

"There is still a lot more to do address the delays," she said.

• How court delays are allowing alleged criminals to go free in Quebec