Warning: Contains details of a murder and may not be suitable for all readers.
The events leading up to the killing of a Nanaimo man at a waterfront park were recounted in B.C. Supreme Court this week.
Fred Parsons, 29, died after being stabbed on the evening of Sept. 5, 2022 at Maffeo Sutton Park, with Mark Jayden Harrison and Aiden Matthew Bell subsequently being charged with manslaughter. Eltjo Schaeffer, a friend of Parsons, took the stand Tuesday, July 30, providing details of that night. Another person, whose identity is protected by a publication ban, also took the stand.
The unnamed witness’ testimony was corroborated by Schaeffer’s.
Parsons and Schaeffer were among a group of people with Parsons's pet dog at the playground near Sway' A' Lana Lagoon, playing on the swings after having smoked marijuana earlier in the day, although Schaeffer said he was clear-headed. They were approached by a group of three individuals, described as a shorter male, taller male and a female. Both witnesses estimated the group to be between teenagers or young adults.
After hearing a random whistle, Schaeffer responded with a whistle of his own and then the three strangers made their way into the playground, he testified, with the shorter male pestering the group, asking their names. The group refused to reveal their identities, told the three to go away and threatened to call the police as they felt endangered. The three responded with bad language and started to walk away before turning around.
Besides this exchange, Schaeffer told the court he was not acting aggressively.
The two groups lined up shoulder-to-shoulder and came face-to-face, Schaeffer recounted, at times getting emotional on the stand. He said he had the dog's leash in his hand and one member of the other group warned him to get the dog away. To which Schaeffer responded "or else what?" and was then hit with bear spray, blinding him.
Schaeffer remembers hearing Parsons saying he got hit, to which Schaeffer thought was referring to the spray. But Parsons elaborated stating that he was bleeding. Those were the last words Schaeffer said he heard from Parsons.
The unnamed witness testified about seeing the shorter male lunging at Parsons during the altercation.
While Schaeffer said he was screaming from the pain, a person with the group insisted he seek help and he quickly came across a police officer, who he said didn’t immediately respond, but did make it to the playground and call for backup. The officer asked if he could see Parsons’s wound, testified Schaeffer, and then an ambulance arrived on scene. Paramedics administered first aid and eventually treated those affected by bear spray.
Parsons was known to carry an antique knife on him. Schaeffer stated he was unaware if Parsons had it the night of the incident, but in photos police showed him a week later, Schaeffer identified the knife.
During the investigation, the unnamed witness identified a person in a police photo that didn’t fit the description of Harrison or Bell.
The 14-day trial began on July 23 and is being heard in front of justice Robin Baird and a 12-person jury.
Nick Barber and Kaitlyn Tourangeau are Crown counsel. Gloria Ng, Stephanie Head and Austin Nix are representing Bell, while Bobby Movassaghi and Kendra Waugh are representing Harrison.
On Wednesday, July 31, Baird informed the jury that the trial would be adjourned until Thursday, Aug. 1, to allow for a witness to be located by police.
