A friend of the man accused of manslaughter in an April 2023 incident near Grand Forks suggested the shooting was out of character for Sean Tiessen.
Curtis Levesque told court despite Tiessen’s size, he was not a fighter or a tough guy who was intimidated easily and despite wanting to, he had difficulty evicting his tenants, Joshua Lockwood and Keera Roberts, from his rural Grand Forks home.
Levesque said Tiessen was fearful of the couple.
He testified that Lockwood tended to get wild when drunk and Roberts was a “headcase,” leading to many police visits.
Levesque was a frequent visitor to the property and said he saw Roberts “freak out” quite often, resulting in physical altercations with Lockwood and the tossing of items in the house.
Levesque testified problems started arising after Tiessen moved back into his house upon returning from a job in Smithers. He said he was surprised to learn Tiessen decided to rent his house in the first place.
Levesque testified Tiessen was sick of the daily drug and alcohol use, the fighting and turmoil and his friend told Lockwood to kick out his girlfriend or they both would have to go.
Roberts admitted during her testimony that they used drugs and drank virtually every day and described their relationship as toxic.
Levesque said he received a text from Tiessen asking “want to come smash a couple of junkies,” but thought Tiessen was just joking around.
He also received a text from Tiessen the night of the shooting saying he had just been threatened with an axe and sent a picture of a handgun.
Lockwood died at the scene from a gunshot to the chest.
Prosecutors continue to make their case to the Rossland Supreme Court jury.
