Bloody scene described at Karl Hallman murder trial
The first witness at the murder trial of Karl Hallman, 30, described how the accused looked on the night that Nicholas 'Nico' Anthony Baltzis died.
Baltzis, 25, was discovered bleeding on the floor of a home in a south London neighbourhood in January of 2019.
John Learn testified that he was going by 740 Notre Dame Dr. on Jan. 6 of that year to drop off old doors in a dumpster because Baltzis had a bin in the driveway.
When he knocked on the door, Learn said the accused answered the door, “He (Hallman) looked like he was covered in paint...like red.”
Learn went on to say that Hallman, “Opened the door the rest of the way and Nico was lying on the floor...he was faced down.”
He continued, “I noticed a laceration across his stomach and a gash to his head.
Learn said Hallman was angry and when he walked past Baltzis, “He (Hallman) stomped on his head...like you stomp on a watermelon.” Learn said he didn’t know if Baltzis was alive saying, “I couldn’t tell if he was breathing or not.”
Learn asked Hallman what happened, “He responded to me, ‘We got into a fight and I had to stab him.’”
Learn said Hallman asked him what he was supposed to do now. He said while he called 911, the accused left the house.
Hallman was arrested by police a short while later and charged with second-degree murder. He has pleaded not guilty.
The trial is continuing with the Crown calling more witnesses.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Grandparent scam: London, Ont., senior beats fraudsters not once, but twice
It was a typical Tuesday for Mabel Beharrell, 84, until she got the call that would turn her world upside down. Her teenaged grandson was in trouble and needed her help.
Deaths of 4 people on Sask. farm confirmed as murder-suicide
The deaths of four people on a farm near the Saskatchewan village of Neudorf have been confirmed a murder-suicide.
George Washington family secrets revealed by DNA from unmarked 19th century graves
Genetic analysis has shed light on a long-standing mystery surrounding the fates of U.S. President George Washington's younger brother Samuel and his kin.
Why some Christians are angry about Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.
Full parole granted to man convicted in notorious 'McDonald's murders' in Cape Breton
The Parole Board of Canada has granted full parole to one of three men convicted in the brutal murders of three McDonald's restaurant workers in Cape Breton more than 30 years ago.
Rainfall warnings of up to 80 mm among weather alerts in effect for 6 provinces
Rainfall warnings of up to 90 millimetres and other alerts have been issued for six Canadian provinces, according to the latest forecasts.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
Bus plunges off a bridge in South Africa, killing 45 people. An 8-year-old child is only survivor
A bus carrying worshippers headed to an Easter festival plunged off a bridge on a mountain pass and burst into flames in South Africa on Thursday, killing at least 45 people, authorities said.
Calgary bridges remain closed due to ongoing police incident
Calgary police have shut down a number of bridges into and out of the downtown core as officers deal with a distraught individual.