A young man who was working with Craig Pope’s father on September 7, 2017, says following an altercation on Alderberry Lane in St. John’s, Pope told his father, “I stabbed him.”
Keith Doran was working for Hiscock Rentals at that time, and was making deliveries on the day in question with Craig Pope Senior. Doran testified this afternoon at Pope’s second degree murder trial underway in St. John’s Supreme Court.
(Police investigate Alderberry Lane after fatal stabbing, September 7, 2017.)
Keith Doran says the day started normal. He went to work for 8 a.m., and started preparing pickups and deliveries for the day. He was in a cube truck, and says Craig Pope Senior was driving.
After lunch, Doran says they were en route to a delivery when they stopped by Alderberry Lane. Pope Senior told him he was selling a TV, but Doran says he didn’t see one.
Doran says they pulled up next to a taxi cab with three men inside. He testified that Pope Senior gave his son $60.
(Prints belonging to Jonathan Collins. Evidence presented in Supreme Court.)
Within minutes, Doran says Pope Junior was yelling and wanted to fight the other passenger in the cab. Doran testified Pope jumped out of the vehicle, striking the cab, telling the man in a red strap shirt to get out.
Doran says Pope Junior chased Collins down the road, out of his sight. Afterwards, Doran said he saw Collins lying in the road, with others helping him.
He didn’t see Pope Junior leave, but Doran says he and Pope Senior caught up with the taxi cab on Columbus Drive.
(VOCM File Photo.)
Doran testified that when they pulled up next to the cab and Pope Senior asked his son what he had done, Pope Junior responded, “I stabbed him.”
Doran returns to the stand tomorrow.
Tears now from the Collins family. @VOCMNEWS
— Renell LeGrow VOCM (@R_LeGrowVOCM) June 13, 2019
Heated Cross Examination of Witness
Things got heated in the courtroom at the murder trial of Craig Pope this morning when a witness on the stand couldn’t say for sure if he had seen a weapon.
Defence Lawyer Randy Piercey got heated on cross examination, raising his voice, pointing to Craig Pope, “This man is charged with murder,” reminding the Crown witness on the stand that he must only testify to what he had seen, and nothing more.
Piercey raised his voice several times, pointing at Pope, “This man is charged with murder!” reminding the witness the importance of accurate testimony… @VOCMNEWS pic.twitter.com/6x2EPuTvGI
— Renell LeGrow VOCM (@R_LeGrowVOCM) June 13, 2019
Barry O’Keefe was inside his Alderberry Lane apartment when the commotion began outside. It is here Pope is accused of fatally stabbing Collins.
He testified Pope reached down and took something out of his sock. He said he thought it could have been a knife.
But the defence only wanted what O’Keefe could say for certain, raising concerns his testimony may have been influenced by the public or the media.
Counsel took an early morning break to discuss a way forward, and will return this afternoon.
