With blood pouring from his cheek and rib cage, a stabbing victim staggered into a business to seek help, Red Deer court heard on Tuesday.
Samuel Lamong, 33, of Red Deer testified that he had been stabbed in his left cheek, through his mouth and fracturing a tooth, and then stabbed in the left rib cage during an attack by Kafi Tutu, 33, of no fixed address.
Janessa Sullivan, who was cleaning the counter at Totally Refreshed Steam and Spa at 6200 67A St., told Red Deer Court of Queen’s Bench testified that Lamong came in the door with his face covered in blood and asked her to help around 6:40 p.m.
“There was blood everywhere,” Sullivan told Crown prosecutor Jason Snider.
Tutu is charged with aggravated assault and possession of a dangerous weapon in the February 2009 incident.
Lamong, who is in custody dealing with a separate charge of possession of a .22-calibre rifle, testified he has known Tutu since 2006 when they lived together in Red Deer.
Lamong said he was walking and heard someone shout his name from a vehicle.
He said Tutu waived him over and when he went to shake hands, Tutu swung, hitting him in the face with a 10-to-12-cm knife.
Tutu fled and was arrested two days later, Justice Kirk Sisson heard. He has been in custody since.
Defence lawyer Rod MacGregor asked Lamong if he held a grudge stemming from eviction and anger that Tutu wouldn’t let him deal drugs at his house.
MacGregor asked Lamong if he had a knife and tossed it away before RCMP arrived.
Lamong denied he had a knife.
“He swung at me first,” Tutu said.
Sisson will hear closing arguments before deliberating today.
jwilson@www.reddeeradvocate.com