Witnesses Reveal Details Of Confrontation In Deadly St. Croix River Stabbing Trial
BALSAM LAKE, Wis. (WCCO) -- A trial for a deadly stabbing incident in western Wisconsin entered day three on Wednesday, just 24 hours after graphic details about what happened were revealed in court.
Levi Acre-Kendall, 20, is charged with murder in the death of Peter Kelly during a fishing dispute along the St. Croix River last April.
We got a better idea Wednesday of the violent confrontation at the car door where Levi Acre-Kendall was seated when he stabbed Pete Kelly. It started as a shouting match across the river, which grew louder as they smoked marijuana. Prosecutors say Kelly and his friend crossed over to confront the group about the drug use and their language.
Details were told by his friends who were there, and the blood spattered car interior.
Levi Acre-Kendall is claiming self-defense, saying the stabbing was justified when Pete Kelly grabbed him from his car. Jake Mossberg, one of the three friends with Acre-Kendall that night, demonstrated the shoulder lock Kelly and Acre-Kendall were in moments before the stabbing.
He admits no punches were thrown and says he left not thinking the wound was fatal.
"Kept on saying it wasn't, he's not dead. Kept on reassuring ourselves he didn't die," Mossberg said in court Wednesday.
He did and today, a forensic scientist identified spatters of Kelly's blood on the open car door, dash and inside windshield.
"But the distribution of these stains is consistent with the pattern being produced by cast off, blood being cast off or flung off from a blood bearing object in motion," Forensic Scientist Nick Stahlke said.
Possibly the action of the switchblade flung open, or Acre-Kendall swinging the knife inside the car. There was no attempt to clean up the blood.
"To insure one witness testimony doesn't affect another witness," Judge Molly GaleWyrick said.
Testimony was delayed an hour after Judge GaleWyrick grew concerned over witnesses in court prior to testifying, a violation of her order.
"He said 'I've got a knife leave me alone,'" Hank Michaels said.
Hank Michaels tried to stop the fight, but was pushed aside.
"They're bickering back and forth, Kelly backed up when the knife was out and he was getting angrier so I stepped in between them and said this doesn't need to happen," Michaels said.
Michaels is told by Kelly to step aside. Seconds later, Acre-Kendall pushes the knife into Kelly's chest, striking his heart.
We will hear the testimony of the third friend, Stevie Phillips, on Thursday.