Witness testifies she found victim ‘in a pile of blood’ during Kitchener murder trial
A friend of Melinda Vasilije's roommate took the witness stand Wednesday in the trial of Ager Hasan, giving the jury her account of what happened the night Vasilije died.
Hasan has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder in the fatal stabbing of Vasilije – his former girlfriend.
Ilona Huynh said she went to Vasilije’s Kitchener apartment on April 28, 2017 because Vasilije’s roommate, Anna Manda, asked her to come over.
Huynh said Manda “wanted me to accompany her. She didn’t feel safe.”
Huynh added she and Manda left the apartment twice that evening. When they returned home the first time, a man was with Vasilije in her bedroom.
According to Huynh, the pair did not see who the man was but assumed it was Hasan because they were expecting him to visit.
Huynh said when the pair entered the apartment Manda yelled out “are you OK?”
Vasilije answered she was.
The pair then hung out in the living room for a while before leaving again to pick up fast food, Huynh testified.
When they arrived home after picking up food, they opened the door to find Vasilije’s body “in a pile of blood” around 2:30 a.m. on April 28.
Huynh testified “there was a knife in front of the door as soon as you opened it.”
OTHER WITNESSESS
Court also heard from Sgt. Greg Macdonald, a detective constable with Waterloo Regional Police at the time.
The jury saw surveillance video from a parking lot which the defence claimed it showed Vasilije and Hasan hugging and potentially kissing about an hour before police were called.
“That was not a short peck on the cheek,” the defence said.
“No – that lingered,” Macdonald agreed.
The two “appear at this point to be on good terms,” the defence added.
But when the crown asked Macdonald for clarification he said: “I see close physical contact. It could be kissing, it could be just embracing, it’s not certain.”
Two more witnesses, both officers who were first on scene April 28, told the court CPR was attempted for several minutes, and two bloody knives were immediately spotted. One next to Vasilije’s lifeless body, another in the kitchen. Both said to be covered in blood.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NDP calls out Conservatives for effort to squash pharmacare legislation
The federal New Democrats are calling out Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre and his party for trying to block the bill that could pave the way for millions of Canadians to access birth control and diabetes coverage.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
DEVELOPING Hamas accepts Gaza ceasefire proposal from Egypt and Qatar
Hamas said it has accepted a ceasefire deal proposed by Egypt and Qatar which seeks to halt the seven-month war with Israel in Gaza.
Stamp prices rise for the third time in five years amid financial woes for Canada Post
Canada Post is increasing stamp prices for the third time since 2019, a move the Crown corporation says is a "reality" of its sales-based revenue structure.
For the first time, researchers have identified a genetic form of late-in-life Alzheimer's disease
For the first time, researchers have identified a genetic form of late-in-life Alzheimer’s disease — in people who inherit two copies of a worrisome gene.
B.C. court date set for 3 accused of murdering Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar
Three suspects accused of murdering British Columbia Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar last year are scheduled to appear in court in Surrey on Tuesday.
Ontario MPP asked again to leave Ontario legislature over keffiyeh, Speaker loosens ban
An Ontario MPP was asked again to leave the Ontario legislature on Monday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment that was banned by the Speaker last month due to its political symbolism.