KAMLOOPS, B.C. — A British Columbian man accused of killing a friend by stabbing him 73 times is on trial for the same charge for a second time.
Cory Bird, 27, is charged with second-degree murder in the death of Albert Michell in August 2008.
Crown lawyer Frank Caputo told a B.C. Supreme Court jury Monday that Bird and Michell met while hitchhiking and became fast friends.
He said Bird eventually stayed at Michell's home in Lytton for a number of days.
On Aug. 13, 2008, Bird, Michell and another man bought alcohol and watched a movie at Michell's home, Caputo said.
The third person left partway through the movie, leaving Bird and Michell alone, jurors heard.
"That was the last time anyone saw Mr. Michell alive, other than Mr. Bird," Caputo said, adding Michell was killed between 11 p.m. and 9 a.m. the next day.
Michell's body wasn't found until Aug. 17, when concerned family members visited his home after he missed work.
Bird hitchhiked across the country, court heard, and was taken into custody after a brief standoff in Montreal.
"He yelled (to police) that he had a gun and that he had killed a man in British Columbia," Caputo said. "He continued to reiterate that he had killed a man in British Columbia."
Caputo said Bird initially told police he was acting in self-defence, but later admitted that wasn't true.
Bird appealed his previous conviction for the same charge. In 2013, he was ordered to stand trial again. (Kamloops This Week)
