The trial involving the death of a teenager in Behchokǫ̀ progressed to its fifth day of witness testimonies on Friday. Zakk Lafferty, aged 24 at the time of being charged, pleaded not guilty to the accusation of second-degree murder in the August 2023 incident. The trial commenced in Yellowknife on Monday and is anticipated to span at least 10 days.
Forensic pathologist Cecilia Wu, testifying via video call from Edmonton, was summoned by the Crown on Wednesday. Wu, having conducted the autopsy on the deceased, Deijean Drybones, highlighted that his demise resulted from a stab wound to the upper right chest, causing two injuries to the vena cava veins in his heart. The ambiguity surrounding the type of blade causing the wound was emphasized by Wu, who could not determine if it was single-edged, such as a kitchen knife, or double-bladed like a dagger.
During the autopsy, Drybones’s elevated blood alcohol levels were noted, indicating intoxication prior to his demise, although Wu specified that this did not contribute to his death. Given the severity of the injury, Wu mentioned that Drybones had a minimal chance of survival without immediate medical intervention.
In a video presented by the Crown on the fourth day of the trial, RCMP Const. Jeff Linnen conversed with Lafferty, who was in police custody. Lafferty, bearing injuries from an alleged assault, narrated an account where he was attacked after visiting a friend and subsequently ran home without leaving for the remainder of the night.
In a compelling exchange during the video, Linnen challenged Lafferty’s version of events by playing a recording from a witness who interacted with Drybones that evening. Lafferty maintained his assertion that he returned home post-assault and did not venture out further. The police search of the party location led to the discovery of cellphones and an almost empty blue label Smirnoff bottle outside.
The trial, which included the testimony of the final witness from the night of Drybones’s death, saw proceedings temporarily closed to the public. The upcoming sessions are set to feature the conclusion of the Crown’s witness statements and the commencement of the defense’s presentation.