THUNDER BAY – The jury has now been tasked with deciding the outcome of Shaldon Wabason's murder trial.
The 12 member jury, comprised of six men and six women, began deliberations late Thursday afternoon at the Thunder Bay Courthouse after receiving instructions and their charge from the judge.
Wabason is facing a count of second degree murder and break and enter to commit robbery in connection with the March 2011 death of 54-year-old Robert Topping.
Justice Terrence Platana spent much of the day explaining the charges against Wabason as well as the evidence preented during the trial, which began on Sept. 14, and the legal process the jury must follow in order to reach a verdict.
Wabason, along with Nicholas Webber, Christopher Hawk and Cody Thompson, were all charged in the March 19, 2011 death of Topping, who had rushed to the aid of Paulette Cloutier when the Minnesota Street home she was housesitting was broken into.
Topping arrived and confronted the intruders and died in hospital after being stabbed four times.
Webber has previously pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was sentenced to 10 years in prison. Hawk pleaded guilty to robbery.
Thompson died in August 2011 one week after being rushed to the hospital from the district jail.
The two sides made their closing arguments on Monday.
The jury must reach a unanimous decision to reach a verdict.
If necessary, deliberations are scheduled to continue into Thursday evening and could resume on Friday if a consensus has not been reached.
