Jury call for victim's mum

The mother of slain teenager Christie Marceau has been selected for jury service next month - during the murder trial of her daughter's alleged killer.

And despite her circumstances, Tracey Marceau must formally apply to be excused, according to court rules.

Christie, 18, died in a violent attack at her North Shore home last November. Akshay Chand, who was at the scene when police arrived, was charged with murder.

He was on bail at the time, facing charges of kidnapping and assaulting Christie two months earlier.

His murder trial is set to begin in the High Court at Auckland on October 15. Mrs Marceau and her husband, Brian, who now live in Australia, are expected to be called as witnesses.

Mrs Marceau was already dreading having to relive watching Christie die in her arms.

Her stress was compounded this week when she got a jury summons for a trial starting on October 29 in the Auckland District Court. The letter was sent to the Marceaus' house in Auckland, the place Christie died.

Christie's sister Heather now lives at the house and deals with any mail that comes for her parents.

"Heather saw the letter from the court and thought it was something to do with Christie. She opened it and she was really upset," Mrs Marceau told the Weekend Herald.

Mrs Marceau was "disgusted" and "appalled" at her selection. She acknowledged that if she attended jury selection she might not even get chosen, but the mere idea of it made her feel physically sick. She will be asking to be excused but is unhappy that she was even contacted.

"There's no excuse for what they have done. This has really set me back ... The indignity that it falls right in the middle of the trial, but a week before the date my daughter was murdered. Now I have to deal with this. I just can't understand it.

"Honestly, it's just a slap in the face," Mrs Marceau said.

District Courts general manager Tony Fisher said the Ministry of Justice "sincerely regret causing Mrs Marceau any distress".

"Jurors are selected at random by computer from the electoral roll. An automatic system checks for criminal records to ensure people who can't legally serve on juries are not selected. The system cannot screen for other extenuating circumstances."

Mr Fisher said Mrs Marceau could not be automatically excused despite her personal circumstances.

"Unfortunately the rules say that she will need to apply to the Auckland District Court registrar to be excused. I have ... asked the registrar to personally consider the application. I will also write to Mrs Marceau directly to apologise for causing her unnecessary distress."

But Mrs Marceau wants more done to protect victims and thinks the selection system should be reviewed to prevent others in her situation having the same "distasteful" experience.

"I think this is really cruel and disgusting. It's beyond words. They have really stepped over the boundary this time. It's disgraceful."