Devon Saunders prison inmate murder trial continues, defence prepares to call witnesses

[00:00:01]Devon Saunders arrived at the Bracebridge Courthouse where a jury will soon decide whether he acted in self-defense on the night of December 18th, 2022 when he stabbed and killed his former cellmate, Leslie Maw, in the kitchen area of the Gravenhurst Medium Security Prison. Saunders was already serving a life sentence for the first-degree murder of his girlfriend, Shernell Pierre, nearly 20 years ago.

[00:00:24]The court has heard Maw was stabbed several times after the Crown alleges Saunders, while wearing a winter coat, used a rock to first strike Maw in the head in a common area as they were then seen moving toward the neighboring kitchen. Within moments, a fellow inmate told guards to call an ambulance.

[00:00:40]Correctional officers discovered Maw leaned up against the kitchen cabinets with his head slumped forward and blood coming from his front and side torso.

[00:00:48]The Crown alleges Saunders planned and carried out the murder, while the defense says the accused acted in self-defense, fearing for months that Maw and his friends inside the prison were going to kill him. The defense told the jury in its opening remarks that Maw had a beef with Saunders over one of his associates at a Manitoba prison where they had both done time. Saunders, the defense argues, had previously been assaulted by a group of men in the shower, and the defense says Maw had threatened his life. Saunders, who is now 57, was convicted in 2015 of murdering his girlfriend, who was shot in the head inside her car that was found burned near the West Edmonton Mall. Saunders wasn't arrested until 4 years after his former partner's death.

[00:01:29]>> I got nothing. I >> And has maintained his innocence, hoping to one day overturn his murder conviction. The trial enters its third and final week on Monday when it's expected the defense will call its first witness to the stand. Mike Arsalides, CTV News, Bracebridge.