THUNDER BAY — First responders in Manitouwadge described the chaotic scene inside a Flicker Avenue residence where 18-year-old Wayne Allen was stabbed, but the demeanour of the accused appeared calm after his arrest.
Several Ontario Provincial Police officers and the responding paramedic testified in the second-degree murder trial for Jesse Allen, 40, who is accused of stabbing his brother Wayne Allen twice in the chest in January 2021.
According to a paramedic with Superior North EMS, a 911 call was received just before 1 p.m. on Jan. 31, 2021, regarding a possible assault at a Flicker Street residence in Manitouwadge.
Earlier testimony by an eye-witness inside the residence revealed Jesse Allen stood up from the kitchen table where he was sitting with a friend and his father, Glenn Allen, smoking marijuana and without saying anything stabbed Wayne twice in the chest with a knife.
Upon arriving, the victim, later identified as Wayne Allen, was observed lying on the floor.
Paramedics also observed two penetrating wounds on his chest and he did not have a pulse.
CPR was performed by the paramedics and Wayne was transported to the hospital after police arrived on the scene. Wayne was pronounced dead shortly after arriving in hospital.
Also called to testify on Thursday was Sgt. Davin Strank with the OPP, stationed in Manitouwadge.
When Strank arrived on the scene, he said he observed an older male emerge from the residence screaming for help and to hurry.
“Upon entering the residence there was a living room area on my left where two paramedics were tending to a younger male,” Strank said. “I observed the younger male to have his shirt off. I observed two puncture wounds on the upper chest area on the male. The male’s eyes were open but had a fixed gaze. He wasn’t conscious. He appeared pale.”
Strank continued that he also observed another male inside the residence, who he identified as Jesse Allen.
“This male was on his knees, shouting something to the effect of: ‘I want my house,’ repeatedly, in succession,” Strank said.
Jesse Allen was taken into custody and according to Strank, he at first resisted, tucking his arms into his chest and continuing to yell: ‘I want my house.’
Jesse Allen also stiffened his legs when officers led him out of the house and he was eventually forced down into a snowbank.
After Jesse Allen was placed into the police cruiser, his demeanour changed, Strank said.
“I noticed his demeanour significantly changed when I was reading him his rights to counsel,” he said. “I would describe him as calm. He was aware and attentive to what I was saying to him. He was responsive. He provided a specific name for a lawyer he wanted to talk to.”
Jesse Allen was initially placed under arrest for attempted murder, but when Strank learned Wayne Allen was pronounced dead, Jesse was rearrested on the charge of first-degree murder.
Const. Colin Harmer, who was at the Marathon OPP detachment where Jesse Allen was transported, also described him as calm while in custody.
“I would describe him as almost a deer in the headlights,” Harmer said. “You could tell there was a lot going on. He just did what was requested.”
During cross-examination, Strank said he was told by Glenn Allen while inside the residence that Jesse had taken meth.
Strank also noted that Jesse Allen did not attempt to flee the scene at any time while he was present.
Testimony will resume on Friday.