'Tough to take:' Hannah Leflar murder trial declared a mistrial

Tears were flowing as were swear words and shouts of “no” as a mistrial was declared in the Hannah Leflar murder trial.

New matters have come to light and the jury was dismissed. 

“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,” Justice Lian Schwann told the jury.

The family of the 16-year-old stabbing victim left the court visibly angry and upset.

“They’re not very happy. This is the second blow in relation to this that they have had to deal with in the last month with the other young person, that matter getting adjourned,” senior Crown lawyer Chris White explained.

“This is certainly tough to take as well. Unfortunately it is more of the same for them and it is unfortunate.”

The new trial will begin on Feb. 6, 2017, and is scheduled for two weeks. 

White was frustrated by the outcome.

“We didn’t expect this to end in this fashion.”

White did not think the new information was something that fundamentally changed the case.

“Often witnesses in their evidence during chief or cross at some point come up with something no one has ever heard before. Usually we are in a position where we can adapt and roll with it. According to the judge this wasn’t one of those situations as she characterized it as something fundamentally different and that triggered the mistrial,” he explained.

This new information will form part of the evidence at the new trial but White doesn’t think it will change the Crown’s approach.

The defence declined comment.

The teen on trial is accused of killing 16-year-old Leflar in her home in Regina in January 2015.