‘He was my good friend’: witness testifies at Bird murder trial

“Like a party mood,” he said.

Acknowledging he was very intoxicated, Charles said he slipped in and out of consciousness throughout the night but awoke at one point and saw his friend Will lying on the floor. Charles stated he attempted CPR but then fell asleep again.

“I saw a lot of blood.”

His next memory was waking up and being questioned by police before being taken to hospital to be treated for the cuts. When asked to describe his relationship with the victim, Charles confirmed he had known Ballantyne for about a year and a half.

“He was my good friend.”

And when further prodded if he and Ballantyne ever fought, Charles said no.

“I didn’t really witness anything. I was just there.”

As per testimony heard on Monday, RCMP received a 9-1-1 call from the mother of the accused. At the house, officers found Ballantyne lying face down in the bath tub.

He was naked and there was blood on his face. Upon taking a closer look at the body, officers discovered two stab wounds to the chest area and another to the abdomen just above the victim’s belt line. Ballantyne also had a head wound and an injury to his left arm.

Despite life saving efforts by RCMP and EMS, Ballantyne died.

Mary Bird and Walter Charles were located inside the house and arrested.

One month has been set aside for the trial. Family members of both the accused and the victim were present in the gallery area.

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @nigelmaxwell

by Nigel Maxwell

‘He was my good friend’: witness testifies at Bird murder trial

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