Encounter between Wolseley neighbours turned into deadly attack, court told
Brenda Lee Schuff on trial for second-degree murder in 2017 death of Judy Kenny
A chance meeting between two Wolseley neighbours two years ago ended in a fight that left one of them dead on the floor of her kitchen, surrounded by blood, a jury was told Monday morning.
The trial for Brenda Lee Schuff, 46, who is charged with second-degree murder in the killing of Judy Kenny, 54, on April 10, 2017, began in Court of Queen's Bench this week before Justice Richard Saull. Schuff has pleaded not guilty.
During opening statements, Crown prosecutor Debbie Buors told the jury that they intend to prove that Schuff beat and stabbed Kenny after they had both been drinking.
The pair didn't know each other before the night of Kenny's death, but met when Kenny was out looking for a dog she was looking after that had gone missing, Buors told the court.
The two women returned to Kenny's home on Camden Place, where they socialized for a while. Then, it turned violent, Buors said.
"Something went horribly wrong, and Judy Kenny was beaten, stomped on, and stabbed multiple times," Buors told the court.
Officer describes bloody scene
The Crown's first witness, Const. Susan Roy-Hageman, a Winnipeg police identification officer, described the gruesome scene police found in Kenny's home.
She told the packed courtroom Monday that police found Kenny on the floor of her kitchen, lying on her back, with several "significant" stab wounds to her chest.
A kitchen knife with an eight-inch blade was also lodged in Kenny's head, Roy-Hageman told the court.
Schuff was arrested shortly after Kenny was found dead at her home. She was released on bail after her arrest.
She attended court Tuesday dressed in a moss green suit, her long blond hair hanging down her back. At times she smiled or talked to those in the public gallery during breaks in the proceedings.
Exchange student living with victim to testify
Later this week, the jury is expected to hear testimony from a Japanese exchange student who was living with Kenny at the time of her death.
The Crown said Monday they are planning to submit a video statement from the student, where she'll describe being woken by the struggle between Kenny and Schuff, and called a friend. The jury is also expected to hear a 911 call from that friend, who called emergency services on her behalf.
The trial continues Tuesday morning. It is expected to last three weeks.
Schuff is being represented by defence lawyers Matt Gould and Zach Kinahan, while the Crown is being represented by Buors and Theresa Cannon.