The disappointed family of father Christopher Anderson broke down in tears and began hugging outside the courtroom after the decision to dismiss the Brisbane Supreme Court jury on Wednesday.
Larkin Moffatt had pleaded not guilty to murder after he was accused of fatally shooting Mr Anderson in a home invasion at Gailes in Brisbane's south in July 2021.
The court earlier was told Moffatt, his brother Markiss Graham Moffatt-Cleary, Shaun Birt and Aidan Pascoe went to Mr Anderson's home to collect drug money he was owed.Â
Pascoe fired a shot within the home before the four men fled with some of Mr Anderson's belongings, the jury heard.
CCTV footage captured Mr Anderson in pursuit armed with a shovel before he was later shot in the chest.
Moffatt was accused of firing the fatal shot as Mr Anderson attacked the group with a shovel while they tried to flee in a car.
The jury was unable to reach a verdict after three days of deliberating, with a note handed to Justice Lincoln Crowley on Wednesday saying they were "absolutely deadlocked".
Justice Crowley discharged the jurors after thanking them for their efforts in a difficult task that he said was undertaken with "diligence and seriously".
Mr Anderson's older sister Lisa Conlon said the family was disappointed and "can't get an opportunity to grieve properly" after the jury's dismissal.
Moffatt remains in custody with the matter to be reviewed on June 3.
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