As lawyers at a murder trial rest their case, Andre Wareham told the court that Bill Atkins’ death will forever be scarred on his brain.
Steven Hinkson finished his case in defence of Wareham at the Thunder Bay Superior Court of Justice on Tuesday. Wareham faces a second-degree murder charge in connection to the death of Atkins.
The two had gotten into a fight and as a result Wareham had stabbed Atkins in what he argues was self defence.
Hinkson had only called two witnesses to the stand – Wareham and his massage therapist.
During cross-examination, Assistant Crown Attorney Rob Kozak methodically went over the transcripts of what Wareham had said to a 911 operator following the stabbing on Jan. 14, 2009 and the interview with a Thunder Bay police officer.
Kozak called into question the accuracy of Wareham’s previous two statements. In his testimony, Wareham has told the court that Atkins had kneed him in the face and punch once on the chin.
He admitted that his statements may not be completely accurate but it was the truth.
“This has scarred my brain forever,” Wareham said. “I will never forget this day. Had I been sober I would have been completely accurate and we wouldn’t be going over the transcripts like this.”
Wareham said he wasn’t in the right state of mind during those two instances.
He said he was hysterical when he had called 911 and was heavily medicated on morphine and Percocet’s during the police interview.
The court learned that Wareham had purchased the knife he used to stab Atkins from a hunting surplus store sometime in November or December.
Kozak wanted clarification on why Wareham had told the operator that Atkins had “booted” him instead of kneeing.
He also wanted clarification on why he told the officer Atkins had “pounded” him when Wareham told the court that Atkins only landed a single punch to the chin.
Kozak and Hinkson will make their closing addresses to the jury on Wednesday. The judge is expected to charge the jury on Thursday.
None of the accusations against Wareham have been proven in court.
