Witness recalls brutal stabbing
Suspected gang member accused of injuring man in fight outside bar
Beth Brown
Northern News Services
Friday, August 19, 2016
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
A jury is deliberating today on a verdict for a 26-year-old Aldergrove, B.C. man accused of stabbing a Yellowknife man outside a restaurant in 2014.
Nathan Hodges has been charged with aggravated assault in the stabbing of Chase Van Metre, 24, who required 50 stitches to close 14 stab wounds.
The stabbing took place outside of Coyote's Steakhouse & Lounge on Aug. 9, 2014, at bar close around two o'clock in the morning.
Police have stated Hodges is a member of the notorious B.C.-based '856' drug gang.
The trial opened on Tuesday morning, presided over by justice Louise Charbonneau.
In his opening statement, Crown prosecutor Marc Lecorre said the most serious stab Van Metre received "penetrated his torso, causing blood to pool" below his lungs. Van Metre had wounds on his face, neck and chest.
Lecorre also noted that in an unrelated RCMP search a of a dwelling on Fairchild Crescent - where the accused was living at the time - police located a garbage bag of clothing meeting the description of Hodges' apparel from the time of the stabbing. This was just a few days following the attack and tests of the clothing showed DNA that may have been Van Metre's.
Brandon Bradbury, 26, a long-time friend of Van Metre and witness to the stabbing, testified first on Tuesday morning. Bradbury told the court he remembers racking up for a game of pool when he glanced up and saw Hodges, a stranger.
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"He was already looking at me when I turned, and the first thing he said was, 'What the hell are you looking at,'" said Bradbury.
Van Metre took it upon himself to have words with Hodges later in the evening, said Bradbury. While the two talked, Bradbury noticed Hodges holding a small knife, about two inches long. Bradbury didn't warn Van Metre about the weapon, having been interrupted by the bartender who was telling everyone to leave as it was past closing time.
"I regret it every day that I never said anything," said Bradbury. "But everything happened so fast."
The conversation, meanwhile, was becoming heated.
Outside, a black SUV stopped in front of the establishment and friends of the accused got out. Van Metre began to argue with the driver, who was threatening to fight.
A brawl broke out in the parking lot where Bradbury said at least two men were attacking Van Metre. He said his friend wasn't aware he had been stabbed until after the fight broke up. Bradbury noticed blood pouring out of Van Metre's body as they stood underneath some traffic lights. The witness quickly pulled him away and walked him the hospital.
On Wednesday Hodges, sporting cropped blonde hair and square black glasses, testified he had acted in self defence.
The jury - eight women and four men - will begin deliberations Friday morning.
