The trial regarding the death of a teenager in BehchokÇ«Ì reached its fifth day of witness testimonies on Friday. Zakk Lafferty, aged 24 at the time of being charged, has pleaded not guilty to the second-degree murder charge in the August 2023 incident involving 17-year-old Deijean Drybones. The trial, commencing in Yellowknife on Monday, is anticipated to span at least 10 days.
Forensic pathologist Cecilia Wu, testifying for the Crown on Wednesday, revealed that Drybones succumbed to a fatal stab wound to his upper right chest, resulting in two injuries to the vena cava veins in his heart. Wu, considered an expert witness by the judge, mentioned that the exact type of blade causing the injury remained indeterminate, whether a single-edged kitchen knife or a double-bladed dagger.
Drybones’s autopsy disclosed elevated blood alcohol levels, indicating intoxication before his demise, although Wu clarified that alcohol did not contribute to the fatal outcome. Wu emphasized the severity of Drybones’s injuries, expressing minimal chances of survival without immediate medical intervention.
In a recorded video shown during the trial’s fourth day, Zakk Lafferty, sporting injuries, claimed to have been assaulted the previous night and detailed a sequence of events leading to the fatal encounter with Drybones. Lafferty asserted returning home promptly after the attack, refuting claims of further involvement that evening.
Investigator Jeff Linnen challenged Lafferty’s narrative in the video, presenting conflicting witness statements and evidence found at the party location. Linnen confirmed the discovery of a nearly empty blue label Smirnoff bottle outside the premises, aligning with Lafferty’s account.
During cross-examination, details of the police search at Lafferty’s residence were disclosed, revealing no relevant evidence connected to the investigation. The trial’s proceedings, including the testimony of the last witness present on the fatal evening, were briefly adjourned, with the trial set to resume with the conclusion of the Crown’s witness testimonies and the commencement of the defense’s case on Tuesday.
