THUNDER BAY — The three-week murder trial for Telique Ricketts was cut short on Tuesday after he pleaded guilty to the lesser offence of manslaughter with a firearm.
The jury trial began on April 22 at the Thunder Bay Courthouse. Ricketts was on trial for second-degree murder in relation to the death of Adrian Richardson, who was fatally shot a Hodder Avenue residence in 2022.
Police received a call from Richardson shortly after 11:30 p.m. on May 2, 2022 about a break-and-enter involving weapons at his home, said Thunder Bay police Sgt. Justin Dubuc previously in the trial.
Dubuc was among the officers who entered the building, describing it to have a broken entrance door, a single bullet casing in a stairwell and Richardson on the floor in the main living area surrounded by blood.
He noted that Richardson was later pronounced dead at the scene, despite lifesaving efforts by police and paramedics, leading to the investigation being turned over to the major crimes unit.
Ricketts was one of four people charged in connection with Richardson’s killing. Two others — Jacob Green and Aiden Collander — also pleaded guilty to manslaughter.
The third accused, Henok Banjaw, appeared in court on April 17. However, the details of that hearing are subject to a publication ban.
Green and Collander both testified against Ricketts saying he had the gun and that he pulled the trigger and shot Richardson during a robbery.
A lawyer for the defence argued that Green and Collander made up the story, conspiring to frame Ricketts.
The case was adjourned until late May when a date should be set for sentencing submissions.
