CALGARY – Kristopher Guenther, accused of first-degree murder in the death of his ex-fiance Lacey Jones-McKnight, told court Wednesday the on-again, off-again couple fought on the day she died. But he testified her death was accidental.
Guenther said Jones-McKnight was at his home Oct. 25, 2012 when they got into a verbal and physical argument over accusations of his infidelity. He told court they’d had a rocky relationship, but were talking about reconciling and had been intimate shortly before her death.
Guenther said they started shoving each other and when Jones-McKnight spat in his face, he snapped. He said he grabbed her from behind and wrapped his left forearm around her throat in an attempt to restrain her. He applied pressure and they fell forward. That’s when he noticed she had stopped struggling and was turning blue. He said he panicked and never intended to kill her.
Guenther said he dragged Jones-McKnight’s body from his basement to the passenger seat of his car. He then drove to his ex-girlfriend’s workplace before moving on to Jones-McKnight’s mother’s home. The victim’s body remained in the car. Guenther then drove away and tried to hang himself from an overpass.
READ MORE: Ex-girlfriend testifies murder suspect showed her victim’s body
Throughout the testimony, the victim’s mother was surrounded by family and friends.
“She endured so much and I want to feel her pain,” said Shelly Jones.
“I think feeling her pain motivates me to know what she went through, and to show him in court that I can be strong for Lacey.”
READ MORE: Victim’s mother says accused admitted murder in emotional testimony
Jones called Guenther’s version of events “ludicrous” and she had no doubt of his guilt.
“He has no remorse, no regret,” she said. “I feel like he came to my house to brag about what he did to my daughter.”
Guenther’s cross-examination will resume Thursday morning.
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