Witness says Craig Pope admitted to stabbing Jonathan Collins in fight over $60

A witness in the second-degree murder trial of Craig PopeJr. says a fightstartedafter a $60 payment for a TV. Moments later, Jonathan Collins was lying on the street with a fatal stab wound.

Keith Dorantestified on Thursday thathe was in a vehicle with Craig PopeSr.behind the wheel, as he followed his son away from the crime scene.

They pulled alongside the cabat the intersection of Columbus Drive and Wishingwell Road nearthe centre of St. John's.

"Senior asked what did you do to that poor young fella, and Junior said he stabbed him," Doran told the court.

Keith Doran said he left Alderberry Lane and met Craig Pope Jr. at the corner of Wishingwell Road

Members of both families cried during Doran's testimony, which suggested the fight began after Pope Sr. handed his son $60 to go buy a TV.

Doran said Collins and Pope got back in the taxi, and he heard them arguing.

"Senior gave Junior the money and within minutes there was screaming and yelling and Junior wanted to fight the other guy," Doran said.

He saw Collins get out of the taxi and back away from Pope while both men exchanged punches. Like several other witnesses, Doran said Collins turned and sprinted away from Alderberry Lane towards Mundy Pond Road.

"He had some skip in his step," Doran said. "He was trying to get away quickly."

You didn't see nothing.- Pope family member to witness

Doransaid he was watching through the side mirror on the driver's side of the truck. Next thing Doran saw, Collins waslying in the street.

Several witnesses have testified they saw Pope Jr. get back in the taxi and drive away after Collins hit the ground.

Doran said he didn't see the taxi leave, but Pope Sr. was soon back in the truck and driving after the cab.

"We matched the speed of the taxi so we could pull up and Senior could ask him what happened."

Like many other witnesses, Doran said he didn't see Pope brandishing a weapon.

Heated moments in the morning

Barry O'Keefe was the only witness in this trial to say he saw a weapon.

But then he said he didn't.

And then O'Keefe saidhesaw Pope pull somethingfrom his sock or his rolled-up jeans. Or maybe it was nothing.

Hisrecollection of old memories seen from his basement apartment on Alderberry Lane prompted a fiery cross-examination from Pope's lawyer, Randy Piercey.

"Do you understand how serious this is?" Piercey shouted at O'Keefe.

"Yes, I do," he replied.

"And you did not see a weapon, did you?"

"I can't say I didn't," O'Keefe responded. "I don't know. It was two years ago."

"You didn't see nothing," a member of Pope's family said from the gallery.

Her outburst prompted a sheriff's officer to turn around and issue a stern warning.

"Shut up," he told her.

The lawyers asked for a recess as the tensions peaked, so they couldreview O'Keefe's previous statements to police and testimony in the preliminary hearing.

He came back Thursdayafternoon and said he couldn't say for sure if he saw a weapon.

The trial continues Friday morning with Doran on the stand for cross-examination. It's expected the Crown will call one final witness and then rest its case.

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