Officer says victim had marks on his neck
An Ottawa police officer called to the scene of a stabbing in the city’s Pleasant Park area in July 2010 told an attempted murder trial Tuesday that the victim, Patrick Halcro, had clear abrasions on his neck and shoulder.
Halcro, an Afghanistan war veteran diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder, has testified that he punched his lover Ashley White because of a phobia of being touched aggressively around his face.
Although he had previously warned her about his phobia, Halcro testified, White grabbed his throat during their argument, making him feel threatened.
Halcro broke the woman’s nose and left her bruised and bloodied but has testified he hit her instinctively and out of self-defence. Shortly after he hit her, White plunged a knife into his chest.
White, 26, has pleaded not guilty to attempted murder and aggravated assault. She is being tried by jury.
Previous witnesses have been vague as to whether Halcro had injuries to his neck and throat, but Const. Jerome Belanger testified the abrasions were clearly visible when he interviewed the soldier.
Belanger initially arrested Halcro on suspicion of domestic assault but he was released from hospital after two days and never charged.
An emergency room physician has testified that while a potentially dangerous wound, Halcro’s internal injuries had ultimately been relatively minor.
Belanger told the court Halcro was on his knees with his chest close to the floor when he arrived at the second floor apartment on Othello Avenue in response to 911 calls.
There was yelling and screaming and a bloodied steak knife was on the floor just inside the apartment, he said.
While he was helping Halcro, another officer arrived and arrested White.
White and Halcro had been dating for six months in an often-rocky relationship. On the night of the stabbing they had been drinking at an Ottawa Bluesfest concert.
Halcro testified he hadn’t enjoyed the concert by country star Keith Urban. While White danced, he sat and made regular visits to the bar where each time he bought two vodka-based cocktails and shared them with White.
He denied a suggestion by White’s lawyer Israel Gencher that he was consuming most of the drinks himself.
“I remember going one on one with her,” replied Halcro.
Halcro testified Monday that he had deliberately not taken his numerous PTSD-related medicines on the day of the concert because he knew he would be consuming alcohol.