Grand Forks manslaughter case declared a mistrial<\/p>\n
Published 11:52 am Friday, August 28, 2026<\/p>\n
The jury in the Grand Forks area manslaughter trial for Sean Tiessen was unable to reach a verdict.<\/p>\n
The B.C. Prosecution Service told Black Press Media that Justice Lindsay Lyster declared a mistrial Thursday (Aug. 27) after the jury was deadlocked.<\/p>\n
Tiessen\u2019s next court date is scheduled for Sept. 8 at 2 p.m. at the Rossland Law Courts for a scheduling appearance.<\/p>\n
The jury went into deliberations Tuesday afternoon<\/a> following Lyster\u2019s charge in the morning and nearly a full day of closing submissions from defence and Crown counsel on Monday. The deliberations continued until Thursday afternoon.<\/a><\/p>\n Lyster told the jury on Tuesday that they must be unanimous in any verdict, whether it\u2019s guilty or not guilty.<\/p>\n \u201cIf one or more of you cannot agree with the majority, after sincere consideration of the facts and honest discussion with your fellow jurors, you are entitled to do so.\u201d<\/p>\n However, she said that if that is the case, she would be forced to declare a mistrial, and the trial would begin again.<\/p>\n During the manslaughter trial,<\/a> the jury heard from several witnesses, including the girlfriend of the man killed who was in the home at the time of the shooting, an RCMP officer, a forensic pathologist and the accused Sean Tiessen.<\/p>\n They also listened to audio from the moments leading up to, during and after the shooting.<\/p>\n Tiessen, 47, is facing one count of manslaughter in the death of Joshua Lockwood, 33, following an incident that took place at a home shared by the two and Lockwood\u2019s girlfriend, Keera Roberts, after midnight on April 16, 2023.<\/p>\n He\u2019s claiming self-defence.<\/p>\n The jury had to determine Tiessen\u2019s use of self-defence. He admitted to shooting Lockwood, but said it was in self-defence, as he claimed Lockwood came at him with a hatchet. He said he feared for his life.<\/a><\/p>\n READ MORE: Testimony concludes in Grand Forks manslaughter trial<\/a><\/p>\n READ MORE: Accused testifies he feared for his life in Grand Forks manslaughter trial<\/a><\/p>\n