KINGSTON, Ont. – A jury in eastern Ontario deciding the fate of three people accused of killing four family members over honour has finished deliberations for Saturday with no verdict.
The jury in the Shafia family murder trial in Kingston deliberated for one and a half hours Friday afternoon, then for another nine hours on Saturday.
They will start fresh Sunday morning at 9 a.m., looking at the mountain of evidence from 58 witnesses and 165 exhibits, presented by the Crown and defence since the trial began Oct. 20.
Mohammad Shafia, 58, his wife Tooba Yahya, 42, and their son Hamed, 21, have pleaded not guilty to four counts each of first-degree murder.
They’re accused of killing Shafia sisters Zainab, 19, Sahar, 17, and Geeti, 13, as well as Rona Amir Mohammad, 52, their father’s childless first wife in a polygamous marriage.
Judge Robert Maranger told the jury they can reach different verdicts for the three accused, and that the options available to them are guilty of first-degree murder, guilty of second-degree murder or not guilty.
