The trial of a man accused of second-degree murder of Misha Pavelick continued for its third week on Monday at Court of King’s Bench. The court finished hearing testimony from all of the Crown’s remaining witnesses. Pavelick was fatally stabbed at a high-school graduation party on May 21, 2006, near Last Mountain Lake. The court heard from peers of Derek Enns, a man who intervened when Pavelick was in the initial fight that allegedly happened that evening, resulting in a separate fight entirely. Enns faced severe injuries from being stabbed that night. He testified on Oct. 24 during the first week of the trial. On Monday, jurors heard from Shawn Hesse, a friend of Enns, who told the court he witnessed the multiple fights involving Pavelick. In addition, he saw the fight in relation to Enns. Hesse was a close friend of Pavelick’s. Prior to any altercations taking place that evening, Hesse told the court Pavelick was concerned about a fight occurring as soon as he became aware a group uninvited visitors were present at the party. Hesse said Pavelick “made it clear” about Andrew Perkins being among the group, and that the people he was accompanied by would support Perkins if a fight broke out. When the first of the two fights involving Pavelick did occur, Hesse said he pulled the accused off of Pavelick when he stepped in to help him. He looked over at the accused briefly when giving his statement in court. Another witness who took the stand, Mackenzie Hall, was a roommate of Enns at the time. Hall said he remembered seeing Pavelick on the ground after multiple fights broke out that evening, Hall said Pavelick “was conscious” at that point, telling jurors it was “a fight for his life … he was frantic. He was scared.” “They were beating up Misha and Derek [Enns] was fighting at the same time,” he told the court, referring to the first altercation when Pavelick allegedly hit Perkins with a glass bottle. Through cross-examination, Hall admitted to hitting an individual who attacked Enns that night. Cordelle Carlberg also testified Monday morning. After it was apparent that Enns was stabbed, Carlberg told the court he advised a mutual friend of theirs to leave the party and drive Enns to a hospital. Carlberg said he stayed by Pavelick’s side until EMS arrived at the campground while Enns and the friend took off. “We didn’t really know he had been stabbed until he was coughing and saying he couldn’t breathe,” jury members heard from Carlberg. He also testified to helping Pavelick stand up when a group of men were surrounding and kicking him when he was on the ground. “When I got him to his feet, he was a little balanced … but he was swaying,” Carlberg said. He added when the two eventually both stood up, they “got jumped.” He told the court it was three minutes or less until the same group of men, about four or five people, approached them again. The mutual friend also testified in court on Monday. He cannot be named under the provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act, as he was under 18 years old at the time of Pavelick’s death. Through his testimony, he stated that the accused said ‘‘why did you do that, why did you do that to my bro?” after Pavelick allegedly hit Perkins with a glass bottle. Another witness testified, who also cannot be named, stating he walked away with Pavelick after the first fight. Close to 50 witnesses were scheduled to testify over the course of the trial, however only 34 appeared in court. The defence may call any witnesses of their own later this week. Closing arguments made by both lawyers are to follow before the jury heads into deliberations.
