Jury Deliberations Continue In Manners Trial
Posted March 24, 2010 5:35 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Jury deliberations continued for a second straight day Wednesday in one of the city’s most high-profile murders, the death of schoolboy Jordan Manners.
Two 20-year old men, who cannot be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act are charged with first degree murder in Manners’ death nearly three years ago. They were minors when they were charged in the slaying and are known to the public as only “J.W.” and “C.D.”
The pair could end up facing manslaughter charges if the jury feels Manners’ killing wasn’t planned or on purpose. No firearm was ever recovered from the scene and during the trial, the Crown didn’t present any evidence that physically tied the two to the scene.
However, a trace amount of gunshot residue was found on J.W.’s hand hours after the shooting.
Meanwhile Justice Ian Nordheimer has called on the province’s attorney general to investigate the testimony of two key witnesses.
Two girls are now coming forward, admitting they lied in their statements to police, and that what they said was classroom gossip and not what they actually witnessed.
One girl told police she saw the accused drag manners down a flight of stairs and press something against his chest. She then said he slumped and they robbed him.
“This undermines the process,” Nordheimer said.
“It should be looked at and not simply ignored.”
Manners was fatally shot in the hallway of CW Jefferys Collegiate on May 23, 2007, just days after his fifteenth birthday.
The two accused are former friends of Jordan Manners. The case against them went to the jury Tuesday.
