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.
Christopher Cathcart, a tall man in his late 30s, appeared in Victoria court on June 29 to face allegations in the killings of William “Billy” Bradshaw and Stephanie Jade Elk. Both were killed on the morning of Oct. 19, 2022.
Cathcart has pleaded not guilty to both charges.
Bradshaw was found in a grassy area between Blanshard Street and Saanich Road with three stab wounds. A few hundred metres away, Elk – Cathcart’s girlfriend at the time – was discovered inside a home in the 3400-block of Bethune Avenue with 21 stab wounds.
Crown counsel has alleged Cathcart killed Bradshaw first, then Elk, and told the court that the victims’ blood and DNA were found on clothing and on a knife used in the attacks – which acted as the Crown’s central evidence in this case.
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.
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.
Phipps then recounted the Crown’s version of events.
“(Cathcart) kills Mr. William Bradshaw in the encampment… where he was living and a short time later, he chases Stephanie out, knife in hand, into a stranger’s home and kills her,” said Phipps.
“It’s the signature of a single course of conduct – one man, one knife, and two victims in one morning.”
Minutes after Elk’s 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.
Forensic experts called by the Crown testified that Cathcart’s and the victims’ blood and DNA were found on the knife and on Cathcart’s pants.
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’s numerous text message exchanges, is enough to link Cathcart to the two killings.
Phipps added that while Cathcart’s 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.
“There’s no reasonable doubt that that the intent is established and that Mr. Carthcart foresaw that his conduct was likely to cause death,” said Phipps. “By way of summary of the Crown’s position, a man who drives a blade through the hearts of two people acts with a goal-directed mind… with the intent for murder.”
According to Phipps, a series of text messages Cathcart sent before the killings offer key insight into his state of mind.
“Mr. Cathcart was experiencing significant physical distress at the time,” he said. “He states that he is freezing on multiple occasions. He describes himself as hungry and starving on multiple occasions. He says that he hasn’t eaten in days.”
In some instances, Cathcart said, “I don’t care anymore.”
Messages exchanged on the morning of Oct. 19 indicated that Cathcart and Elk were “experiencing significant relationship conflict.” Phipps highlighted that these hardships pushed Cathcart to ponder suicide.
“I’m done,” said Phipps reading one of Cathcart’s exchange with Elk. “I’m gonna make sure and slit my throat as well. Ain’t the first time, but will be the last. Can’t take this, no showering, no eating, no sleeping, no money, no love, bullshit.
“Have a nice life Jade. Maybe one day you’ll appreciate what I did and show you. I’m so done with this life. This ain’t living.”
In another discussion, Cathcart said he had taken “fenty” hoping to “go to sleep for good.”
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.
Of the three stabs wound Bradshaw sustained, Phipps described that two of them were “deep penetrating stab wounds to either side of the upper torso”
“The stab wound to Mr. Bradshaw’s left side passes through multiple chambers of the heart, causing massive bleeding in the sac around the heart and chest, impairing the lungs,” he said. “It would have caused his death in less than a minute.
“The evidence was that Mr. Bradshaw was alive when this wound was inflicted.”
The other stab wound on Bradshaw’s 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.
In the immediate vicinity of Bradshaw’s body, playing cards and two tissues were found that had Cathcart’s blood on them as well as pill bottles showing the name of both Elk and Cathcart.
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.
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.
Investigators found some of Elk’s blood on the steps leading to the home where she was found stabbed 21 times.
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 “by a male who had an object in his hand.”
A third witness, university student Sarah Paul, told the court she was home alone listening to music when she heard screaming outside.
“Her front door was unlocked,” Phipps said. “She heard a female yelling, ‘Help me.’ 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.”
Paul said she opened her bedroom door slightly and saw two unknown individuals, including a man dressed in black – corresponding with Cathcart’s attire on Oct. 19 – leaning over another person on the living room floor.
She closed the door, called 911 and hid in her closet.
“The screaming ended and Miss Paul could hear footsteps in the residence,” Phipps said. “The footsteps started in the living room, went through the corridor and then to Miss Paul’s bedroom.
“Miss 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.”
She testified the man had blood on his chest and broken blood vessels on his face. Before leaving, he apologized to Paul, saying, “Sorry about the body.”
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 “sea sponge.”
Police later located Cathcart in the backyard of 3432 Bethune Ave., with the interaction continuing toward Seymour Place.
An officer testified Cathcart was aggressive, sweating heavily, and non-compliant.
“Uninterested in talking to police, they subjectively perceived him as trying to divert police attention from himself,” said Phipps.
A knife was later found in the backyard of 3434 Bethune Ave. containing the DNA and blood of the accused and victims.
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.
Crown counsel is set to continue on June 30, with Cathcart’s closing submissions to follow.
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