A mistrial has been declared in the Sean Tiessen manslaughter trial.
After deliberating for the better part of three days, the jury was unable to reach a verdict.
Jurors indicated last night and this morning that they were having trouble reaching a unanimous decision. Justice Lindsay Lyster told them it was their duty to continue deliberations until a verdict was reached or they declared they were hopelessly deadlocked.
Deliberations began early Tuesday afternoon, continued Wednesday, and resumed this morning. Jurors declared themselves deadlocked shortly around 3:45 p.m. today. A few jurors shed tears when Lyster declared the mistrial.
It will be up to Crown prosecutors to decide whether to retry the case.
Tiessen was accused in the death of Joshua Lockwood, 33, who died in April 2023.
There was no dispute that Tiessen shot Lockwood, but the jury has had to weigh Tiessen’s argument of self-defence. The two men lived in the same trailer on Granby Road with Lockwood’s girlfriend. Tiessen said he wanted the pair to leave, but was fearful for his life because Lockwood came at him with an axe.
Crown prosecutor Rebecca Smyth argued Tiessen initiated the final fatal confrontation out of anger and not fear, stating that he had other choices that morning, since Lockwood and his girlfriend were in their room. That included calling police, leaving to seek help from neighbours, or waiting the situation out in his bedroom.
The jury heard a recording of the shooting that Tiessen made and comments he made beforehand.
