Accused claims self-defence in manslaughter trial

Moving to the night prior to and ultimately the day that Little Light was killed on Feb. 7, 2016, Across the Mountain said she and Little light had been drinking beer, hairspray and Listerine, while also taking various pills. She said she had drank many times with Little Light over the years but said this time was different.

“She wasn’t the same Candy I knew… that was enough to scare me,” said Across the Mountain. “There was something wrong with her that day… it was almost like there were two [versions of Little Light].”

Across the Mountain said she decided to go across the street to a Mac’s convenience store to use their phone and call for a ride to the shelter, bringing a bag with her clothing in it. Failing that, she decided to return to the apartment, saying she was hoping Little Light would have calmed down or fallen asleep.

When she returned, she noted that Lacey Hunt – who testified earlier in the trial – was there with Little Light, and that they all started drinking hairspray again. She said Hunt then left when Little Light started to get angry again.

Across the Mountain claims self-defence

Deciding for a second time that she needed to leave, Across the Mountain said she went to use Little Light’s phone to make a call when she “sensed something” and turned around to face Little Light.

“She grabbed that knife off the table,” said Across the Mountain. “I was trying to hold her hands and we started struggling… when you’re scared you don’t know how strong you can be. I was self defending myself.

“It happened really fast. Then she backed away. That’s when I saw the blood.”

Wiping tears from her eyes, Across the Mountain said she panicked and fled the apartment, saying she fell down outside and drank more hairspray to help calm down. She then decided to go to her cousin’s home.

Cross examination

During the Crown’s opportunity to question Across the Mountain, prosecutor Clayton Giles picked up asking about the morning that Little Light was killed. He specifically inquired about a visit from two Lethbridge Police Service officers who responded to a complaint at the unit, after Little Light went through the halls of the apartment building banging on doors and yelling for Across the Mountain to come out of hiding.

When Giles asked Across the Mountain about testimony from Cst. Keon Woronuk, in which he said Little Light appeared to be so intoxicated that she could barely stand that morning, she replied, “He was exaggerating.”

He also asked Across the Mountain why she chose not to leave with the officers if she was scared of Little Light. She responded, “I wanted to go with them to get out of there… but I was too scared [of Little Light],” later adding, “If I did, eventually she’ll catch me, or she’ll follow to the police station.”

Going over the fatal event, Giles questioned how Little Light came to be stabbed three times – specifically a 12 cm stab to her left arm and a 16 cm stab to her lower back.

“I don’t know. We were struggling,” she answered, before making the comment, “I didn’t stab her. She never let go of the knife, she was still holding it.”

After seeing the blood, Across the Mountain said she panicked and left, and that she later “came to” lying on the street a few blocks away. She kept saying she was confused and panicked when asked why she had taken the time to get a jar of hairspray but not to get help for Little Light. She also said she didn’t realize how badly injured Little Light had been.

In discussing the statements Across the Mountain made to police after turning herself in three days later, she admitted that she had remembered what happened but didn’t tell the officers – instead saying she had last seen Little Light talking to a man – stating that she didn’t think they would believe her because of her Aboriginal heritage and past criminal record.

Giles asked Across the Mountain if she wanted police to believe she had last seen Little Light alive, to which she responded, “Yes.” As his final question, he then asked if that was because she wanted them to believe someone else had killed Little Light, to which she said, “No.”

Before leaving the stand, defence lawyer Michael Dietrich asked Across the Mountain to build upon her concerns about the police not believing her.

“I was scared to tell them. I have a record and that’s how they know me. I’m just another Indian to them.”

The trial is scheduled to run to Friday.

by Patrick Burles - @PatrickBurles on Twitter

Accused claims self-defence in manslaughter trial

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