Family members of both Craig Pope and the man he is accused of murdering were emotional in Newfoundland and Labrador Supreme Court Wednesday.
Evidence in the case was presented to the court during Pope’s bail hearing, though it is banned from publication.
Pope’s family members shook their heads at various points during testimony, disagreeing with what was being said. They were asked twice by sheriff’s officers to refrain from speaking out during proceedings.
Loved ones of David (Jonathan) Collins, who died after being stabbed Sept. 7, 2017, cried as his injuries were described.
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Police were called to the area of Alderberry Lane and Mundy Pond Road in St. John’s around 3:30 p.m. that day, with a report that a man had been stabbed on the street. Collins, 36, was found unconscious and was rushed to hospital, where he later died of his injuries. Police believe he had been stabbed with a knife, though they have not said whether or not the weapon was recovered.
Police and witnesses said the man who stabbed him fled the area in a taxi. Pope, 32, was arrested a short time later on Elizabeth Avenue.
Pope and Collins knew each other, and police don’t believe the stabbing was random. Court documents indicate Pope lived on Alderberry Lane at the time.
Collins, a father of two, was described by his family as loving, kind-hearted, fearless and full of life.
Pope was charged with second-degree murder in connection with Collins’ death, and sported a split lip when he made his first appearance in provincial court the next day. He has been in custody ever since, and is hoping to be released on bail pending a potential trial. A preliminary inquiry set for the end of May will determine whether there is enough evidence for the case to proceed, and Pope has already chosen a trial by judge and jury if that’s the case.
Pope is not a stranger to prison, and was released from custody weeks before Collins’ death after serving time for criminal harassment, uttering threats, fraud and breaching court orders.
His criminal record also includes convictions for assault, break and entry, drug trafficking, drug possession, impaired driving, theft and falsely reporting a fire.
His bail hearing will continue before Justice Vikas Khaladkar on Friday.
Twitter: @tara_bradbury
