Raymond Stacey, accused in brutal stabbing, fit to stand trial

The man accused of killing a coworker Sunday night has been deemed fit to stand trial, following a preliminary psychiatric assessment.

Raymond Stacey, 23, was charged with second-degree murder after Clifford Comerford, 41, was stabbed as the men were being shuttled by van to their job site in Mount Pearl.

• Raymond Stacey charged with 2nd-degree murder of Clifford Comerford 

The two men worked together for a contractor at a chicken farm.    

Well-known defence lawyer Bob Buckingham is representing Stacey. 

'Still a coward'

Meanwhile, Comerford's family is preparing for funeral services in St. John's and in St. Mary's Bay.

With extra sheriff's officers present, members of Comerford's family remained calm during Stacey's court appearance Tuesday morning.

"He's still a coward. We are mad," Clifford Comerford's brother Trent said.

​"We are upset. We lost our brother."

During Stacey's first appearance Monday, Trent Comerford shouted "coward" at Stacey as he was led into the holding cells in provincial court.

Stacey screamed back, "F--k you."

"We were pretty much warned by our parents not to make a ruckus this time, to be calm, to be there to support Cliffy," sister Dianna Comerford said.

"We want justice and we will be here every time, and he'll know our faces and he'll know our names and the next time he's here, we'll be here again."

Trent Comerford said he doesn't want Stacey to be released on probation. 

Stacey's case will be called back in St. John's provincial court in a few weeks after the police conclude their investigation.

Royal Newfoundland Constabulary Const. Steve Curnew told reporters during a news conference Monday, that police are still trying to figure out the connection between the two men.

"Right now, we're unsure what the exact relationship is between the two," he said. "We can confirm that the two were employees. Co-workers."

Curnew said police still have a lot of questions about the incident in Mount Pearl.

"All we really know is that an incident occurred on the bus," he said.

"A male incurred injuries consistent with that of a stabbing and later succumbed to those injuries. So, the smaller details of what occurred and where exactly it did occur are still a matter of investigation."
    
The family believes the killing was a random act of violence. 

Comerford, like Stacey, has a short criminal record including a conviction for assault in 1997.

He was sentenced to two months.