Jury to deliberate in the 2nd-degree murder trial of Midland man

Jury awaits deliberations in Midland murder case The jury is poised to determine the fate of a Midland man accused of fatally stabbing his tenant with intent.

A Barrie jury has still not begun deliberations in the second-degree murder trial of a Midland man accused of killing his former friend and tenant three years ago.

The 11 jurors received instructions from Justice Clyde Smith in the trial of 68-year-old Rick Patrick on Thursday.

Patrick is accused of fatally stabbing Chris Forrester on the night of December 16, 2021.

The Crown argued Patrick intended to kill Forrester following a year of animosity and growing tensions between the two men, while the defence claimed he acted out of fear for his life.

Patrick has maintained Forrester attacked him on his driveway and came armed with reinforced combat gloves and possible wire cutters.

The jury will now have to decide whether Patrick is guilty of murder, manslaughter or not guilty.

Deliberations could begin as early as Friday.