The first-degree murder trial for Kirk Keeping is once again scheduled to begin today with jury selection in Grand Falls-Windsor.

But given the repeated delays over the past five years, there are no guarantees.

Keeping’s six-week trial was scheduled to start last Monday, but yet another last-minute delay postponed it by another week, much to the frustration of the victim’s family, friends, and supporters.

Keeping is accused of killing 28-year-old Chantal John, and attempting to kill her mother, in the community of Conne River.

The horrific crime occurred more than five years ago, in January of 2019.

The trial was supposed to start in 2021, but it went off the rails when Keeping fired his Legal Aid lawyers at the last minute.

He then made applications seeking a private lawyer of his choice on the government’s dime, which was denied at every court level, including the Supreme Court of Canada this past November.

Keeping has remained in custody since his arrest shortly after the killing.