The trial of a man accused in a double murder in Saanich over the fatal stabbing of two homeless people more than three years ago is coming to an end after the Crown delivered its closing submissions.<\/p>\n
Christopher Cathcart, a tall man in his late 30s, appeared in Victoria court on June 29 to face allegations in the killings of William \u201cBilly\u201d Bradshaw and Stephanie Jade Elk. Both were killed on the morning of Oct. 19, 2022.<\/p>\n
Cathcart has pleaded not guilty to both charges.<\/p>\n
Bradshaw was found in a grassy area between Blanshard Street and Saanich Road with three stab wounds. A few hundred metres away, Elk \u2013 Cathcart\u2019s girlfriend at the time \u2013 was discovered inside a home in the 3400-block of Bethune Avenue with 21 stab wounds.<\/p>\n
Crown counsel has alleged Cathcart killed Bradshaw first, then Elk, and told the court that the victims\u2019 blood and DNA were found on clothing and on a knife used in the attacks \u2013 which acted as the Crown\u2019s central evidence in this case.<\/p>\n
Cathcart appeared via video conference shortly after 10 a.m. before vanishing out of the frame, opting to participate in the trial while sitting on the floor.<\/p>\n
After a brief introduction, Crown prosecutors Lorne Phipps and Sheila Simpson delivered their closing submissions to Justice Jennifer Power in a lengthy trial that was repeatedly interrupted by outbursts from Cathcart, who was representing himself.<\/p>\n
Phipps then recounted the Crown\u2019s version of events.<\/p>\n
\u201c(Cathcart) kills Mr. William Bradshaw in the encampment\u2026 where he was living and a short time later, he chases Stephanie out, knife in hand, into a stranger\u2019s home and kills her,\u201d said Phipps.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s the signature of a single course of conduct \u2013 one man, one knife, and two victims in one morning.\u201d<\/p>\n
Minutes after Elk\u2019s body was found by a student living at the Bethune Avenue house, Cathcart was apprehended. Shortly after, police found a black-handled knife in a neighbouring yard.<\/p>\n
Forensic experts called by the Crown testified that Cathcart\u2019s and the victims\u2019 blood and DNA were found on the knife and on Cathcart\u2019s pants.<\/p>\n
Although there were no direct eyewitnesses to the killing of Bradshaw, Phipps contended that circumstantial evidence, including a clear timeline built from CCTV footage, neighbour testimony and Cathcart\u2019s numerous text message exchanges, is enough to link Cathcart to the two killings.<\/p>\n
Phipps added that while Cathcart\u2019s drug use may have raised reasonable doubt about the nature of his intent, the Crown contended that the accused acted in a way he knew would cause death.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s no reasonable doubt that that the intent is established and that Mr. Carthcart foresaw that his conduct was likely to cause death,\u201d said Phipps. \u201cBy way of summary of the Crown\u2019s position, a man who drives a blade through the hearts of two people acts with a goal-directed mind\u2026 with the intent for murder.\u201d<\/p>\n
According to Phipps, a series of text messages Cathcart sent before the killings offer key insight into his state of mind.<\/p>\n
\u201cMr. Cathcart was experiencing significant physical distress at the time,\u201d he said. \u201cHe states that he is freezing on multiple occasions. He describes himself as hungry and starving on multiple occasions. He says that he hasn\u2019t eaten in days.\u201d<\/p>\n
In some instances, Cathcart said, \u201cI don\u2019t care anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n
Messages exchanged on the morning of Oct. 19 indicated that Cathcart and Elk were \u201cexperiencing significant relationship conflict.\u201d Phipps highlighted that these hardships pushed Cathcart to ponder suicide.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m done,\u201d said Phipps reading one of Cathcart\u2019s exchange with Elk. \u201cI\u2019m gonna make sure and slit my throat as well. Ain\u2019t the first time, but will be the last. Can\u2019t take this, no showering, no eating, no sleeping, no money, no love, bullshit.<\/p>\n
\u201cHave a nice life Jade. Maybe one day you\u2019ll appreciate what I did and show you. I\u2019m so done with this life. This ain\u2019t living.\u201d<\/p>\n
In another discussion, Cathcart said he had taken \u201cfenty\u201d hoping to \u201cgo to sleep for good.\u201d<\/p>\n
CCTV footage from nearby stores, and BC Transit buses active in the area identifies both Cathcart and Bradshaw nearby the green area between Blanshard Street and Saanich Road, leading Crown to establish the killing of Bradshaw at around 10 a.m.<\/p>\n
Of the three stabs wound Bradshaw sustained, Phipps described that two of them were \u201cdeep penetrating stab wounds to either side of the upper torso\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe stab wound to Mr. Bradshaw\u2019s left side passes through multiple chambers of the heart, causing massive bleeding in the sac around the heart and chest, impairing the lungs,\u201d he said. \u201cIt would have caused his death in less than a minute.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe evidence was that Mr. Bradshaw was alive when this wound was inflicted.\u201d<\/p>\n
The other stab wound on Bradshaw\u2019s right chest perforated his right lung and resulted in its collapse. The third stab wound, located on his left wrist was described by the pathologist as a defensive wound.<\/p>\n
In the immediate vicinity of Bradshaw\u2019s body, playing cards and two tissues were found that had Cathcart\u2019s blood on them as well as pill bottles showing the name of both Elk and Cathcart.<\/p>\n
At 10:27 a.m., Elk and Cathcart were captured on security camera footage from three residents of Bethune Avenue, 200 metres away from where Bradshaw was slain.<\/p>\n
One video showed the two appeared to have a verbal exchange and another showed Elk running up the stairs of 3430 Bethune Ave. and entering the residence.<\/p>\n
Investigators found some of Elk\u2019s blood on the steps leading to the home where she was found stabbed 21 times.<\/p>\n
Phipps added that the video evidence was corroborated by two neighbours who testified they heard a woman screaming for help as she entered the residence, pursued \u201cby a male who had an object in his hand.\u201d<\/p>\n
A third witness, university student Sarah Paul, told the court she was home alone listening to music when she heard screaming outside.<\/p>\n
\u201cHer front door was unlocked,\u201d Phipps said. \u201cShe heard a female yelling, \u2018Help me.\u2019 She stood up from her desk and heard people running up the front stairs of her residence, open the door, enter her home, and slam the door.\u201d<\/p>\n
Paul said she opened her bedroom door slightly and saw two unknown individuals, including a man dressed in black \u2013 corresponding with Cathcart\u2019s attire on Oct. 19 \u2013 leaning over another person on the living room floor.<\/p>\n
She closed the door, called 911 and hid in her closet.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe screaming ended and Miss Paul could hear footsteps in the residence,\u201d Phipps said. \u201cThe footsteps started in the living room, went through the corridor and then to Miss Paul\u2019s bedroom.<\/p>\n
\u201cMiss Paul heard knocking at the door and then a loud crashing noise as her bedroom door was broken. She saw a man wearing all black holding a large kitchen knife.\u201d<\/p>\n
She testified the man had blood on his chest and broken blood vessels on his face. Before leaving, he apologized to Paul, saying, \u201cSorry about the body.\u201d<\/p>\n
Moments later, she found a woman on the floor with multiple stab wounds. She described severe injuries, with bowels protruding out of her abdomen, describing the wound as a bloody \u201csea sponge.\u201d<\/p>\n
Police later located Cathcart in the backyard of 3432 Bethune Ave., with the interaction continuing toward Seymour Place.<\/p>\n
An officer testified Cathcart was aggressive, sweating heavily, and non-compliant.<\/p>\n
\u201cUninterested in talking to police, they subjectively perceived him as trying to divert police attention from himself,\u201d said Phipps.<\/p>\n
A knife was later found in the backyard of 3434 Bethune Ave. containing the DNA and blood of the accused and victims.<\/p>\n
Cathcart was taken to hospital before being lodged in police cells seven hours later with the murder scenes remaining secured for forensic examination until Oct. 20.<\/p>\n
Crown counsel is set to continue on June 30, with Cathcart\u2019s closing submissions to follow. <\/p>\n
READ MORE: Trial begins for man charged of double murder in Saanich<\/a><\/p>\n