A Saskatoon man accused of second-degree murder says the incident that led to the killing “all happened so fast” and claims he didn’t mean to hurt anyone, according to testimony during his trial Tuesday morning.
Michael Robertson, 29, is facing the charge in relation to the stabbing death of Rocky Genereaux, 42, on March 12, 2015 at a residence in the 400-block of Avenue I South in Saskatoon.
READ MORE: Trial begins in 2015 Saskatoon homicide case
On Tuesday he took the stand in the trial.
The defence questioned Robertson about his lengthy criminal record, dating back to when he was a youth. Robertson testified that he was on the run from police in the weeks leading up to Genereaux’s death and had resorted to selling drugs through his cell phone to make ends meet.
Days before the killing, Genereaux testified that he stayed for a night in the same residence Genereaux lived in. He said he left the home without his BlackBerry cell phone and when he returned to retrieve it, he found it wasn’t working correctly.
Robertson testified that he returned to the Avenue I South residence after realizing that the number to his phone had been switched. He said he believed Genereaux had tampered with the device, but “wasn’t trying to start any problems.”
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The two were in Genereux’s bedroom when he confronted the victim about the device, Robertson said. Genereaux became agitated, before claiming to be HIV positive and pulling out a needle, according to testimony.
“He came at me,” Robertson said on the stand Tuesday. He testified that he pulled out his knife at the sight of the needle because he was fearful of contracting HIV from Genereaux.
“He moved forward, that’s why I stuck my knife out,” said Robertson.
A woman in the gallery called Robertson a liar during his testimony, prompting a warning from the judge.
Robertson said he fled the house immediately after the incident and didn’t initially realize he had stabbed Genereaux. He testified that he found out about the death two days later, when he was shown a news report.
READ MORE: Two charged in Saskatoon’s 2nd homicide of 2015
During cross-examination Crown prosecutor Jennifer Claxton-Viczko questioned why Robertson claimed he was “mellow” when confronting Genereaux, even though he was previously annoyed that his phone was not working properly.
She also questioned Robertson if he was also scared of contracting HIV during admitted past unprotected sexual encounters, IV drug use and coming in contact with IV drug users during his time as a drug dealer.
The trial is scheduled to continue Wednesday.
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