BY ANDY GARDNER
North Country This Week

CANTON -- District Attorney Gary Pasqua had no comment when asked why he raised a concern in court about the circumstances surrounding the dismissal of a juror in the Christopher Hebert murder trial.

Hebert, 47, is being tried in St. Lawrence County Court for second-degree murder for allegedly killing Yekel, who died at age 25 around June 7, 2014. Prosecutors say Hebert severely beat her and then choked her. Yekel's skeletal remains were recovered in woods near the Massena Industrial Park on Aug. 29, 2014.

The juror was dismissed after today’s noon recess. After the jury was dismissed following the afternoon proceedings, Pasqua aired his concerns to Judge Jerome Richards.

“[With] regards the earlier happenings here ... given the nature of that situation, I do have some concerns regarding that. I don't know if we can talk about that in private. It is concerning to the people,” Pasqua said.

The prosecution and defense then went with Richards and the stenographer into the judge’s chambers for a few minutes and returned to court with no further discussion of the matter.

After court adjourned for the day, Pasqua declined comment.

“We had a juror that was excused. That’s all,” the DA said. “I had some issues I wanted to bring up with the court that are not pertinent to the case.”

He said after the trial concludes, he will comment on what happened “if the court deems it appropriate, but I will defer to the court’s preference.”

He said there is no criminal conduct involved with the situation.

The trial resumes in St. Lawrence County Court on Tuesday at 9:30 a.m.