By Sheldon Spackman

quentin strawberry trial continues

Court hears suspect’s DNA not found on weapon used in fatal stabbing

Mar 12, 2021 | 5:51 PM

A blood stain analyst with the RCMP in Edmonton has testified that no DNA from the man accused in a fatal Red Deer stabbing two years ago was found on the alleged murder weapon.

Sgt. Trevor Knopp told Red Deer Court of Queen’s Bench on Friday that none of Quentin Strawberry’s DNA was found on a machete used to fatally injure 45-year-old Joseph Gallant at his Grandview residence on March 29, 2019.

Gallant died from a stab wound to the chest.

Knopp made the revelation during questioning from defense lawyer Maurice Collard, who suggested that none of Strawberry’s DNA in fact, aside from a cigarette butt, was found at the murder scene at all.

During his testimony, Knopp noted a number of blood stains found outside the residence on 40A Avenue in Red Deer, as well as inside, including at the back stairwell, throughout the kitchen, and both the master and spare bedrooms.

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Although many of the blood stains found throughout the house belonged to the victim, according to Sgt. Knopp, he also shared that blood from Gallant’s common-law partner Amanda Carter was also found inside.

“All the blood that was tested in the master bedroom came back to Amanda Carter,” said Knopp.

Prior to Knopp’s testimony, Dr. Craig Chatterton, Chief Toxicologist at the Chief Medical Examiner’s Office in Edmonton appeared via CCTV as a Crown witness and expert in forensic toxicology.

Chatterton’s expertise was acknowledged as being able to detect the presence and concentration of drugs in a human body, as well as its effects on the body.

Chatterton confirmed the presence of fentanyl, methamphetamine, morphine, and cannabis found in Gallant’s system during the autopsy, with fentanyl and methamphetamine being the most prevalent. The morphine and cannabis were found to be in largely irrelevant quantities, according to Chatterton.

“It is impossible to know when the fentanyl or methamphetamine was last used prior to Gallant’s death,” said Chatterton. “Perhaps in the last 12 to 24 hours prior to his death, but it’s impossible to say with absolute certainty.”

“I find it hard to believe fentanyl would have been prescribed pharmaceutically,” he added. “It seems reasonable that this is the result of illicit use or abuse.”

Strawberry is charged with second-degree murder in Gallant’s death, and is also charged with assault causing bodily harm for an alleged attack on Gallant’s common law partner that night, Amanda Carter.

Strawberry’s trial continues Monday, where the defense plans to call Jennifer Caswell to the stand. Caswell pled guilty last September to assault causing bodily harm for her role in the incident, and was sentenced to eight months in prison, satisfied by time already served.

Voir dire matters, a trial within a trial to determine the admissibility of evidence, will be argued on Tuesday.

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