Man fatally stabbed by stranger, says prosecutor
David Merasty was stabbed near a busy street in the Riversdale neighbourhood’s business district and died on a sidewalk a few blocks away from his home.
The 24-year-old had just asked to borrow a lawn mower from Michael Burgeron, who lived in the 300 block of Avenue E South off 20th Street.
Burgeron said he saw Merasty in front of the house minutes later, clutching his side, which was gushing blood.
Lajray Orlando Redman Gordon, a stranger who had come from the Friendship Inn, attacked Merasty on the afternoon of June 18, 2016, after the two men exchanged words on the street, Crown prosecutor Cory Bliss said on Monday.
Gordon is on trial at Saskatoon Court of Queen’s Bench, charged with second-degree murder.
During his opening statement to the jury, Bliss said the Crown’s theory is that Gordon was possibly offended by a perceived insult.
Witnesses described Gordon as the aggressor who kept pursuing the victim as he tried to walk away, Bliss told jurors.
The jury heard Merasty was stabbed in the left side of his body, cutting into his heart.
“Evidence will show this stabbing was not a mistake, was not an accident, but a culmination of Mr. Gordon’s aggressive actions,” Bliss said.
Burgeron’s neighbour, Aaron Caswell, told court he saw a small, black man “swiping ” at a man he later learned was Merasty.
Caswell said he called for help when he realized Merasty was bleeding.
Bliss said Gordon sprinted down a nearby alley.
A grainy image captured on surveillance video led to his arrest four months later.
Merasty’s roommate and friend told court Merasty was a positive “peace keeper” who fixed bikes for neighbourhood kids.
She said she didn’t know if Merasty sold cocaine, as was suggested by the defence.
Burgeron testified that he didn’t think Merasty was intoxicated during their brief interaction, or if he was, it was “very minimal.”
Under cross-examination, he said it looked like something was bothering Merasty.
The trial is scheduled to last two weeks.