The trial concerning a 2023 homicide, where a man is accused of second-degree murder, commenced on Monday with two witnesses testifying that they saw the accused shoot the victim. Jeremy John Blacksmith, aged 43, pleaded not guilty to charges of second-degree murder, possession of a weapon against an order, and failure to comply with a release order in connection to the death of Blaze Tacan on August 5, 2023, at Sioux Valley Dakota Nation.
Following reports of a shooting, Virden RCMP responded to Sioux Valley, where Tacan was fatally shot. Another individual, a 17-year-old at the time, was also arrested in relation to the incident but cannot be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
During the trial’s first day at the Court of King’s Bench in Brandon, witness Francine Mazawasicuna, aged 43, emotionally recounted how she, along with her brothers, witnessed Blacksmith shooting Tacan during a roadside dispute. According to her testimony under Crown co-counsel Sarah Kok’s questioning, Blacksmith arrived at the scene after being summoned by the accused youth who was arguing with Tacan.
Francine described noticing Blacksmith carrying a firearm and alerting her brothers about it. She emphasized that Tacan was unarmed during the altercation, illustrating how he fell to the ground immediately after Blacksmith fired a single shot. The witness detailed the events that transpired in less than 15 minutes, pointing out key locations on an aerial map.
She later confirmed that a firearm shown in court resembled the one she saw Blacksmith with. During cross-examination, defense co-counsel Anthony Dawson probed into the possibility of the gun being handed to Blacksmith and the precise moment it was fired. Despite the rapid sequence of events, Francine testified that Blacksmith aimed the gun at Tacan before shooting, recalling Tacan’s defiant remarks before the fatal shot.
Another witness, John Mazawasicuna, aged 37 and Francine’s brother, corroborated the events, noting the escalating aggression between Tacan and the accused youth prior to Blacksmith’s arrival. John testified to witnessing Blacksmith shoot Tacan, mentioning the difficulty in discerning the concealed object under Blacksmith’s arm before the shot was fired. He recounted hearing Tacan’s realization of the gun and the subsequent gunshot causing Tacan to fall.
John also described Blacksmith’s actions after the shooting, stating that Blacksmith briefly stood over Tacan’s body before leaving the scene. In response to cross-examination, John addressed inconsistencies in his statements and clarified that alcohol was not a factor during the altercation.
The trial is anticipated to span approximately 10 days.