Feelings are tense at the University Avenue courthouse as two sides await a verdict in the trial stemming from the 2007 murder of high school student Jordan Manners.

CTV Toronto's Chris Eby said Wednesday that the strain of waiting for a verdict is showing on the families of the two accused and that of Manners, who was found with a fatal bullet wound to his chest in a stairwell at C.W. Jefferys Collegiate Institute.

However, they will have to wait until at least Thursday. The jury retired for the evening shortly after 7 p.m. and will resume deliberations shortly after 9 a.m.

The 11-member jury began deliberations Tuesday afternoon. They ended early Tuesday evening and resumed about 10 a.m. So far, the jury has asked no questions of Justice Ian Nordheimer.

A major issue for the jury will be wrestling with the testimony of some of the key witnesses, who recanted statements they originally made to police.

For example, one female student told police she saw defendants J.W. and C.D. drag Manners down a set of stairs and pressing something to his chest. After Manners slumped, she alleged they robbed Manners of a neck chain, cellphone and wallet before fleeing.

Both were under 18 at the time of the incident, so they can't be named under provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act. They are now 20 years old.

However, during the trial, she said she didn't witness that happen and instead told police what she had heard from classmates. Another female student also disavowed her original statements that incriminated the accused.

The Crown urged the jury to ignore the girls' testimony and rely on their original statements to police. After the jury began deliberations, Justice Ian Nordheimer urged the Attorney General to investigate the two girls for perjury.

No firearm was ever recovered. The Crown presented no evidence that physically tied the two accused to the crime scene.

However, now that the jury is sequestered, it can be reported that a tiny amount of gunshot residue was found on the hand of J.W. about seven hours after the shooting.

Nordheimer ruled the evidence inadmissible. He said police violated J.W.'s rights when obtaining the evidence.

The six-man, five-woman jury (one person was excused for a family emergency) heard from 25 witnesses and saw 113 exhibits filed. The defence called some witnesses, but the two accused did not testify, which is their right.

With a report from CTV Toronto's Chris Eby