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Juror dismissed in second-degree murder trial of Mark Stobbe

By: Staff Writer

Posted: 02/9/2012 10:53 AM

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Mark Stobbe (left) is on trial for allegedly killing his wife Beverly Rowbotham in 2000.

Another juror has been dismissed in the second-degree murder trial of Mark Stobbe.

The juror was discharged by Court of Queen's Bench judge Chris Martin.

It's the second juror to leave this trial this week. Twelve jurors remain.

Because the trial was expected to last two months, 15 jurors were selected.

The first juror was discharged before the trial because she was pregnant, the second juror left earlier this week, and the third juror was dismissed because he kept falling asleep during testimony.

Martin told jurors today the man suffers from sleep apnea. "Everyone needs to pay attention," Martin said. "We need to do the job properly. We need to be seen to be doing the job properly."

The trial continues this morning with testimony from Mary Ellen Dewar, Beverly Rowbotham's best friend.

Stobbe, 54, has pleaded not guilty to killing Rowbotham, his wife of seven years, with an ax or hatchet during an argument in October 2000 at the couple's St. Andrews home.

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