Crown frustrated by mistrial in Hannah Leflar case
CBC News | Posted: November 16, 2016 4:27 PM | Last Updated: November 16, 2016
New trial dates set for Feb. 6-17
A mistrial has been declared in the case of a man charged with the first-degree murder of Regina teenager Hannah Leflar.
Family members of Leflar gasped and some burst into tears Wednesday as Queen's Bench Justice Lian Schwann informed jurors they could go home.
"As a result of some very recent information, which just came to the attention of counsel Monday night, I am required to declare a mistrial," Schwann told jurors. "I have to release you from your duties."
A more detailed explanation was provided with the jury not present, but the judge imposed a publication ban on that information.
After declaring a mistrial, Schwann set new trial dates with defence and Crown lawyers: Feb. 6-17.
Sixteen-year-old Leflar, a Grade 11 student at Thom Collegiate, was found dead in her home on Jan. 2, 2015.
The 18-year-old accused, who was a minor when Leflar died, had pleaded not guilty.
Crown disappointed with decision
Crown prosecutor Chris White said he was surprised and frustrated with the mistrial.
"We didn't expect this to end in this fashion but the judge felt that the evidence was important enough that we essentially needed to hit the reset button on the trial," White said.
White said Leflar's family shares his frustration, calling it the second blow they've had to deal with in the last month — the first being the adjournment of the other accused's trial to May.
"Unfortunately, it's more of the same for them," White said.
White doesn't anticipate the trial being affected too radically by the new information.
"It's just a matter of us adapting to the new information and I think we can do that quite easily," he said.
With the new trial starting in February, White is hopeful it doesn't drag out too long.
Trial began with statements from Crown, defence
The trial in Regina began Monday with opening statements from the Crown and defence.
The Crown's case was that the 18-year-old was one of two people involved in a plan to kill Leflar.
She died after being stabbed to death by the other accused, the court heard. That person has already pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and will be sentenced next year.
According to the Crown, the 18-year-old was involved in the plan, its execution and the getaway, but not the actual stabbing.
The defence agreed the accused was in the house at the time of Leflar's death but was not part of the plan to kill her.
The two accused were 16 years old at the time of the offence and can't be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.