Kenneth Tingle, Jonathan Dombowsky and Long Nam Luu, charged with first-degree murder in the 2004 shooting death of Isho Hana, have been found not guilty.
The judge in the case, Richard Danyliuk, issued a written decision Tuesday exceeding 140 pages. He called the trial “complex, even Byzantine.”
“Proof beyond a reasonable doubt is obviously an extremely high burden on the Crown and despite the evidence that was presented today, the court felt that burden was not met,” said Crown prosecutor Michael Segu.
Hana, an alleged drug dealer, was gunned down on Preston Avenue South in April 2004 in what police believed to be the result of a drug turf war.
Considerations regarding an appeal would be “premature” until the Crown has had a chance to review the lengthy decision, Segu said.
Defence attorney George Combe said he can’t imagine the stress his client, Jonathan Dombowsky, faced while in custody.
“He was quite controlled today, but I’m sure he’s very relieved. So it’s about him, it’s about Mr. Tingle and it’s about Mr. Luu,” Combe said.
A fourth person, Neil Yakimchuk, was found guilty in July 2014 of first-degree murder in Hana’s death and sentenced to life in prison.
READ MORE: Convicted murderer to receive new trial for 2004 Saskatoon killing
Yakimchuk successfully appealed his sentence after both the Crown and defence agreed the trial judge had made an error in the proceedings by failing to offer manslaughter as a choice to the jury.
A new trial date for Yakimchuk has not been set.