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Accused in Kelowna second-degree murder trial continues testimony

Click to play video: 'Second-degree murder trial in Kelowna continues with the accused on the stand'
Second-degree murder trial in Kelowna continues with the accused on the stand
Second-degree murder trial in Kelowna continues with the accused on the stand – Jun 4, 2019

The man charged with second-degree murder in the death of Chris Ausman is back on the stand for the second day.

Steven Pirko has been accused of killing the 32-year-old victim with a hammer in a bloody street fight near Kelowna’s Rutland Road and Highway 33 in January 2014.

READ MORE: Kelowna man accused of 2nd degree murder takes the stand

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Pirko said he ran away from the altercation because he panicked.

Pirko testified he was intoxicated on the night Ausman died.

READ MORE: Kelowna jury begins to hear evidence at murder trial

He was interviewed by police about a week later.

Pirko testified that he had told police in February 2014 that he had been home all night. In court on Tuesday, he said that at the time, he had been lying and was trying to get information from police about what they knew.

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Pirko wasn’t arrested until November 2016, nearly three years after Ausman was killed.

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Pirko said he was using quite a bit at the time to ensure he wasn’t “dope sick.”

READ MORE: Officer cross-examined in Kelowna murder trial

He testified that during his police interview, he was feeling severe withdrawal symptoms.

WATCH: Details on what happened on the first day the accused takes the stand in his own defence
Click to play video: 'A Kelowna man accused of killing another man in a street fight takes the stand at his 2nd degree murder trial'
A Kelowna man accused of killing another man in a street fight takes the stand at his 2nd degree murder trial

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Pirko is expected to continue on the stand on Tuesday.

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