1st witness recounts killing at Raymond Stacey murder trial

After delays due to sickness and jury issues, the2nd-degree murder trial of Raymond Stacey beganin St. John's Thursday with the opening statement from Crown prosecutor Shawn Patten, followed by testimony from the trial's first witness.

Stacey, 25, is accused of fatally stabbing co-workerClifford Comerford, 41, in Mount Pearl in 2015.

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Patten told the jury the evidence they will hear will outline a drug deal gone wrong.

Patten told the court Stacey was upset about getting poor quality cocaine from Comerford, cocaine Comerfordgot from someone else.

That prompted a fight between Stacey and the alleged dealer, and then, two days later, appears to have sparked one between Comerford and Stacey as they were riding to work at Canadian Poultry.

The first witness calledwas Travis Kean, foreman at Canadian Poultry. Hewas driving the company van the night of the stabbing.

Kean said the crew generally got along there were occasional arguments but they never escalated.

It was clear on the night of January 11, 2015, something changed.

Kean saidwhen they stopped to pick Stacey up in Mount Pearl, he and Comerford, who was already on the van, began arguing and cursing.

Keansaid both men got out of the van, and continued arguing. Kean said he got outand told them to, "Give it up. Let's get to work."

Witness recounts killing

They all got back in the van, and Kean began driving. Amoment later, he felt the van rock. When he looked back, hesaw two men scuffling, and then someone yelled, "Pull over. Pull over."

Keansaid when he did, Staceygot out the side door of the van and took off. When he looked at Comerford, there was blood on his chest and the seat. On closer inspection, he saw a hole in hischest.

Kean said Comerford was grey and gasping for breath. He would die a short while later. No weapon was found.

Comerford's family cried in the courtroom duringKean'stestimony.

The trial, scheduled to start earlier this week, was delayed because jurors soughtexemptionsMonday and Stacey was declared too ill to stand trial Tuesday and Wednesday.

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Supreme Court Justice Garrett Handrigan is presiding at the trial, which is slated for four weeks.