Jurors in a recent murder trial in the N.W.T. faced stress and anxiety, leading to a mistrial for Zakk Lafferty, charged with second-degree murder in the death of 17-year-old Deijean Drybones in BehchokÇ« in August 2023. N.W.T. Supreme Court Justice David Gates declared the mistrial when the 12 jurors could not reach a unanimous verdict after days of deliberation. The jury’s letters to Gates, included in the public record, revealed their increasing stress and inability to agree on a decision.
The initial letter from the jury expressed their deadlock, followed by more letters requesting additional trial information while still examining evidence. Despite efforts, the jurors remained divided, causing significant physical and mental strain, including stress, anxiety, and even emotional breakdowns. The jurors emphasized their inability to reach a consensus and urged the judge to consider their well-being, leading to the mistrial declaration.
During the trial, evidence such as audio recordings, photographs, and maps were presented, depicting the scene of the crime and Drybones’s fatal injuries. An emotional moment in court occurred when an audio recording revealed Drybones identifying Lafferty as his attacker, causing distress among jurors. The court offered an $80 per day honorarium to jurors, while further information on jury support is pending from the Justice Department and courts.
Lafferty awaits a new trial date following the mistrial declaration, as his defense lawyer awaits scheduling details for the upcoming proceedings.