The HullaBoard - View Single Post - New Deveopment in Jabaji stabbing.

Victim accused of first blow
Witness says he was hit at club

20-year-old later stabbed to death

PETER SMALL
STAFF REPORTER

The student stabbed at a rave party at The Docks nightclub actually attacked another man before he was fatally wounded, a murder trial has been told.

Charles Coulter testified yesterday that before he left the Toronto club with his brother in the early hours of Feb. 4, 2001, someone behind him punched his head, then struck him again when he turned to face the assailant.

"It was Salim Jabaji, I now know," Coulter told a Superior Court jury.

Jabaji, 20, died after being stabbed in the chest in the darkened waterfront club packed with dancing patrons. The Mohawk College engineering student had taken some time off his studies to look after his sick father in Niagara Falls.

Jeffrey Tuck, 24, has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder in Jabaji's death.

Coulter, 28, testified yesterday that after Jabaji's attack he and his twin brother David regrouped on the dance floor. About 30 seconds later, their friend Tuck joined them.

Coulter agreed with Tuck's lawyer, Christopher Hicks, that Coulter told the other two he'd "been jumped" by someone.

Coulter also agreed that Tuck at that point volunteered that someone had just attacked him as well. "He said, `Yeah, me too,'" Coulter told Hicks.

Coulter said earlier that night he had been attacked three separate times by Robert Conejeros, Jabaji's friend, on the dance floor. The third assault only ended after a bouncer grabbed Conejeros and ejected him.

After the last attack, the Coulter brothers and Tuck drove away from the club, Coulter testified.

At that point he noticed that Tuck was bleeding, he said.

Tuck told the Coulters that, "one of the guys went after him with a knife and he got the knife off of him and he stabbed him," Coulter testified.

Later that day as they drove a girl home to Barrie, Tuck was silent on the long trip except to say quietly to himself, "I'm f---ed," Coulter told Hicks.

Hicks asked Coulter why he didn't tell police right away about Tuck's confession.

"They wouldn't believe us anyway," he replied.

It was only after Coulter's twin David was wrongly charged with murder in Jabaji's death that it even occurred to him to tell police, he agreed with Crown prosecutor Robin Flumerfelt.

The jury returns to hear more evidence on Monday.

October 16th, 2005, 11:08 PM	#2
anabolic frolic Administrator Join Date: May 1999 Location: HullaLand Photos: 125 Journal Entries: 5	Victim accused of first blow Witness says he was hit at club 20-year-old later stabbed to death PETER SMALL STAFF REPORTER The student stabbed at a rave party at The Docks nightclub actually attacked another man before he was fatally wounded, a murder trial has been told. Charles Coulter testified yesterday that before he left the Toronto club with his brother in the early hours of Feb. 4, 2001, someone behind him punched his head, then struck him again when he turned to face the assailant. "It was Salim Jabaji, I now know," Coulter told a Superior Court jury. Jabaji, 20, died after being stabbed in the chest in the darkened waterfront club packed with dancing patrons. The Mohawk College engineering student had taken some time off his studies to look after his sick father in Niagara Falls. Jeffrey Tuck, 24, has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder in Jabaji's death. Coulter, 28, testified yesterday that after Jabaji's attack he and his twin brother David regrouped on the dance floor. About 30 seconds later, their friend Tuck joined them. Coulter agreed with Tuck's lawyer, Christopher Hicks, that Coulter told the other two he'd "been jumped" by someone. Coulter also agreed that Tuck at that point volunteered that someone had just attacked him as well. "He said, `Yeah, me too,'" Coulter told Hicks. Coulter said earlier that night he had been attacked three separate times by Robert Conejeros, Jabaji's friend, on the dance floor. The third assault only ended after a bouncer grabbed Conejeros and ejected him. After the last attack, the Coulter brothers and Tuck drove away from the club, Coulter testified. At that point he noticed that Tuck was bleeding, he said. Tuck told the Coulters that, "one of the guys went after him with a knife and he got the knife off of him and he stabbed him," Coulter testified. Later that day as they drove a girl home to Barrie, Tuck was silent on the long trip except to say quietly to himself, "I'm f---ed," Coulter told Hicks. Hicks asked Coulter why he didn't tell police right away about Tuck's confession. "They wouldn't believe us anyway," he replied. It was only after Coulter's twin David was wrongly charged with murder in Jabaji's death that it even occurred to him to tell police, he agreed with Crown prosecutor Robin Flumerfelt. The jury returns to hear more evidence on Monday.