A father accused of murdering his daughter’s boyfriend took the stand in his own defense today.
Kim Walker testified about his relationship with his daughter’s then-boyfriend, James Hayward.
Walker claimed 24-year-old Hayward, who was a bodybuilder and took steroids, threatened him several times in the days prior to the shooting, and that he feared for his life.
Walker also testified that his then 16-year-old daughter, Jadah, told him that Hayward almost beat a man to death, leaving a footprint on the man’s face.
During his testimony, he also detailed what he remembered the day Hayward was killed.
Walker and his wife had just brought Jadah home from the hospital following a three day stay on a mental health warrant.
Walker was downstairs getting his work clothes on when his wife told him “they came and took her.”
Walker doesn’t recall much after that, but says he has brief flashes of driving to Agricultural Avenue, where Hayward lived.
He remembers being in the deceased’s house, and claims James came at him with a gun.
Walker says he was scared, and recalls an officer pointing a shotgun at him. He says he has no other memories of what happened that day.
The Crown contends Walker went to Hayward’s home with a loaded handgun, along with two loaded clips.
Prosecution lawyer Robin Ritter says Walker emptied the gun, hitting Hayward 5 times.
During cross examination from Ritter, Walker said he couldn’t dispute causing Hayward’s death, but said he didn’t remember how many times the gun fired, or how close he was to the victim.
“Would you agree with me, Mr. Walker, that you shot an unarmed man?” asked Ritter.
Walker paused briefly and quietly answered, “Yes.”
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