Accused warehouse killer testifies he was ‘very mental’ on day of attack
A man testified he intended to kill his co-workers when he took the witness stand Wednesday at his own double murder trial.
Jayme Pasieka, 32, is charged with two counts of first-degree murder for the stabbing deaths of Fitzroy Harris, 50, and Thierno Bah, 41, at a Loblaw warehouse where they worked on Feb. 28, 2014. He also faces four counts of attempted murder and aggravated assault for stabbing four other men who survived.
Pasieka’s lawyer, Peter Royal, told the jury Wednesday he hopes they keep in mind that his client suffers from schizophrenia as they consider his evidence.
Royal told them Pasieka is the most mentally ill accused person he’s yet called to testify in their own defence, but said it’s important for technical reasons that will become clear when they receive their instructions from the judge.
After swearing on the Bible, Pasieka spoke softly but clearly, answering Royal’s questions about his mental illness and behaviour.
Pasieka repeatedly told the jury he was “suffering” and that he was “very mental” on the day of the attack.
“I couldn’t handle myself,” Pasieka said.
When asked by his lawyer if he knew killing someone was wrong, Pasieka answered “Yes.”
Royal also asked Pasieka if he could offer a motive for why he stabbed the six men, to which Pasieka answered he “just needed help.”
Royal asked him if that still makes sense to him as a reason today.
“It does a little, yes,” Pasieka replied.
“You decided that you were going to go to work, kill people, to get help?” assistant chief Crown prosecutor Kim Goddard asked on cross-examination. “Yes,” Pasieka said. He also agreed he had purchased extra knives at a West Edmonton Mall store before going to work to ensure he would be able to stab multiple people repeatedly. However, when Goddard asked why he didn’t just start stabbing people in the mall, he replied: “I can’t explain.”
Instead, Pasieka agreed he went to the warehouse and clocked in before beginning his rampage.
Pasieka said he remembered stabbing Fitzroy Harris, leaving, then returning to stab him again while shouting “Die, die.”
While being questioned, Pasieka at first said there was no reason behind his choice of victims, but later agreed with Goddard that he had “anger” toward his co-workers.
Pasieka also told the jury about hearing a voice that he said was Satan or the Devil, telling him “negative” things.
He also said he thought joining the military might help him, and that there was a government conspiracy against him. “They were going to shut me down,” Pasieka said.
The trial will resume Thursday.
Pasieka also told the jury about hearing a voice that he said was Satan or the Devil, telling him ‘negative’ things.