A new trial will begin in November for a Sooke man accused of shooting his neighbour, after the initial proceedings ended in a mistrial.
Paul Tregear is charged with aggravated assault, discharging a firearm, possessing a firearm without a licence and harassment.
Tregear’s trial began on Sept. 5 and ended in a mistrial on Sept. 9. The reasons for the mistrial cannot be reported due to a publication ban.
A new trial is scheduled to begin on Nov. 4 and expected to last two weeks.
Crown prosecutor Sofia Green presented the Crown’s theory in her opening statements on Sept. 5 that Tregear shot his neighbour, Anthony Nelson, outside Nelson’s home on Farmer Drive due to a longtime conflict between the neighbours.
Tregear and his wife had lived next door to Nelson and his wife for years and the relationship had become “unfriendly” between the couples, she said.
Nelson was at home with his wife on the evening of May 7, 2022, when he went outside to his trailer and was confronted by someone pointing a rifle at him, Green said.
Nelson did not initially recognize the assailant, but eventually realized it was his neighbour based on Tregear’s comments, she said.
Nelson asked Tregear what he was doing and Tregear shot him in the stomach, Green said.
