Perkins testifies about fighting Pavelick the night he died

A man who was in a physical altercation with Misha Pavelick the night he died took the stand on Thursday. Sierra D’Souza Butts reports.

Jury members heard from Andrew Perkins on Thursday, who testified he was in a physical altercation with Misha Pavelick the night he died in 2006.

In the ongoing trial of a man accused of second-degree murder in Pavelick’s death, the court heard from Perkins, who testified he was hit on the head with a glass bottle twice, at a campground near Last Mountain Lake on the night of May 21, 2006.

Perkins was seeing Pavelick’s former girlfriend at the time, who cannot be identified as she was under 18 years old at the time and is protected under the provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

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When questioned by the Crown, Perkins said he remembered seeing Pavelick hit him with a glass bottle while standing near the bonfire at the campground. Perkins added that his girlfriend at the time was near him.

After falling to the ground, Perkins said he remembered getting up and starting to punch and kick Pavelick.

Once the fight stopped, he proceeded to go look for his hat and was hit by a bottle again. Perkins testified that he could not remember who hit him, but told the court he believed he saw the man responsible running toward the bushes.

Crown prosecutor Adam Breker asked Perkins if he remembers seeing any weapons brought out that evening, which he responded he didn’t.

Perkins said he knew the accused through his friend Scott Nelson, who testified last week.

Through cross-examination the defence said Perkins was considered a suspect by RCMP up until 2021, which Perkins confirmed.

During opening statements, the Crown told the jury they will not hear witnesses say they saw the accused directly stab Pavelick.

The Crown said that from the testimony of around 50 witnesses, the jury will hear that the accused admitted to the offence at the time of the incident.

The Crown’s opening remarks are not evidence in the trial.

The court heard from one other witness on Thursday, who cannot be identified as he was under 18 years old at the time. He told the jury he remembered Perkins wanting to leave the campground shortly after their group of friends arrived.

The witness said he and Perkins noticed Pavelick look at them “funny” from a distance.

When asked by the Crown if he hit or was hit by anyone, the witness answered “no.”

After leaving the campground to go to Regina Beach, he told the Crown it was not until he arrived back in Regina that he became aware that people were stabbed, one of whom was Pavelick.

Jurors are expected to hear from three witnesses on Friday as the trial continues.