The accused was the lone defense witness as testimony wrapped up at the Sean Tiessen manslaughter trial in Rossland.
Testimony indicates the final fatal confrontation in a rural Grand Forks home began with Tiessen, while armed with his pistol, leaving his room to confront Joshua Lockwood, who was in his room with girlfriend Keera Roberts.
Tiessen said he originally retreated to his room after Lockwood waved a hatchet while accusing Tiessen of abusing the couple’s dog. Tiessen described how Lockwood periodically pounded his fist into his bedroom door. Tiessen believed Lockwood also hit the door with the weapon.
Tiessen testified that’s when he decided to retreat and load his pistol, believing Lockwood was going to crash through the door. He described an anxious, heart-pounding five minutes sitting on his bathroom toilet considering what to do.
Tiessen wanted the couple out of his trailer where they lived together, saying police were called several times because of the couple’s fights with each other. He was also upset over their damage to his home.
Tiessen said there were heated cat calls toward him in the ensuing moments and he left his room after Lockwood’s insistence that Tiessen hand over the keys to his jeep so they could leave.
In the recording of the incident taped by Tiessen, he told Lockwood “No, you’ll be walking [expletive].”
Tiessen testified he kicked the couple’s bedroom door and yelled at them repeatedly to get out. He further testified that he backed off after Lockwood came out, and then fired a single shot when Lockwood lunged at him with the hatchet.
Before the shot, which was also captured on the recording, Tiessen could be heard saying “I swear to god” and “You came at me with an [expletive] axe.”
Tiessen respectfully denied suggestions there was no hatchet, but admitted he didn’t see it after Lockwood fell or when he stepped over him to leave the trailer following the April 2023 shooting.
He agreed the hallway was clear before he confronted Lockwood and said he didn’t leave through either available exit or call RCMP because he feared for his life and decided to protect himself and his property.
The jury returns to court at 10 a.m. Monday.
Closing arguments have yet to be heard. Afterward, Justice Lindsay Lyster will deliver her charge to the jury. Lyster has told jurors to be prepared to begin deliberating on Monday or Tuesday.
