The murder trial of Eric Neil Smail was stopped after an hour in the High Court at Christchurch when a problem arose with the empanelling of the jury.
The jury had been selected and the remaining members of the panel had been sent away when problems arose with two jurors, Justice Christine French told the court.
She said one juror was concerned about his understanding of English and the other was worried about her ability to cope with the four-week trial.
After discussions, the judge decided about 11am to discharge the jury and go through the empanelling process again tomorrow morning.
Smail is charged with the murder of his tetraplegic friend Keith McCormick, who he was caring for, at Sumner in July 2005. He pleaded not guilty this morning before the sitting was abandoned.
