“I didnt know what to do and I panicked,” accused testifies at murder trial
The man who stabbed his cell mate over 30 times, is claiming he acted in self-defence.
Tyler Vandewater, 31, who is facing a charge of second degree murder in the June, 2017 death of Chris Van Camp, had the opportunity Friday to tell his side of the story as the first witness called by the defence.
Vandewater recalled Van Camp, who he referred to as “family”, was acting very paranoid the night of June 6, when he had just been returned to prison, after breaching parole conditions. Prior to Van Camp’s release from the prison in April, the two men had shared a cell for more than eight months with no issue.
“He was thinking people were plotting on him,” Vandewater testified, adding Van Camp was asking for “his blade” back. When Vandewater retrieved the weapon from a desk in the cell, he said Van Camp’s agitation increased and he continued to pace back and forth in the cell, gripping the weapon, and wearing only his boxer shorts.