Cab driver didn't see stabbing but says Craig Pope told him to run victim over

Perhaps nobody had a better view of the entire ordeal than Jeff Cromwell, but even he didn't see the fatal stab that killedJonathan Collins, or accused killer Craig Pope brandishing a knife.

Cromwell spent the day driving a Jiffy Cab with two passengers who called each other "Collins" and "Pope." He'd later pick Pope out of a police lineup as the man he picked up at 11 a.m. on Sept. 7, 2017.

Little did he know at the time, the ride would end in tragedy.

By 3:30 p.m. Collins was lying on the pavement, and the taxi driver said Pope was telling him to finish the job.

"[He] came back and got in the car," Cromwell testified on Friday morning."He told me to run buddy over."

Cromwell refused, but it didn't matter. Collins died in hospital hours later of a single stab wound to the abdomen.

The beginning

Cromwell left the taxi stand in the morning and headed to Summer Street, in the Rabbittown area of St. John's.

He picked up a stranger he'd later describe as Craig Pope and drove him a short distance to Cowperwaithe Court. Pope went inside a house for a few minutes, he said, and then returned to the vehicle.

He said they returned to Summer Street andpicked up two more passengers Jonathan Collins and an unknown female.

They "went on a tour about the city," Cromwell said, making more than a half-dozen stops while Collins got out of the cab and went into different houses and vehicles.

At one point, they stopped at Traders pawn shop on Freshwater Road, where the passengers tried to pay with a debit or credit card that was twice declined, Cromwell said.

Fight began about money

The last stop was Alderberry Lane a small, one-way street off Mundy Pond Road.

Cromwell said a box truck pulled up next to them and someone handed over $60. The jury heard the truck was driven by Craig Pope Sr.

The money came into the rear passenger window, Cromwell said, and the younger Pope began shouting at Collins over a debt he owed.

I thought it was a good punch in the ribs.- Jeff Cromwell

The driver said Pope snatched the keys out of the ignition, jumped out of the car and pulled his shirt off. He then saw Pope try to haul Collins out of the backseat, while Collins laid on his back and kicked his feet.

When the brawl spilled to the street, Cromwell left the driver's seat.

"I got out of the car and I was screaming to get my keys back," he said.

Several witnesses have described how Pope and Collins ran onto Mundy Pond Road, swinging their fists. Collins fell to the ground.

Cromwell said Pope came back to the cab and told him to run Collins over.

"I told him I wasn't getting involved," Cromwell said. "When he told me it could get worse I asked him to give me the keys and I'd take him wherever he needed to go."

Cab driver didn't hear any confession

They headed back to Cowperwaithe Court.

Cromwellsaw Collins lying in the middle ofMundy Pond Road, gasping for breath, but he didn't see him get stabbed.

"I thought it was a good punch in the ribs," he said.

I told my coworkers I was there and they were mindblown I didn't go to police right away.- Keith Doran

As they were driving across town, the truck driven by Pope Sr. pulled alongside the taxion the passenger side.

Keith Doran, the only passenger in the truck, testified Thursdayhe heard Pope tell his father through the open windows of the moving vehicles that he stabbed Collins.

When asked about it on Friday, Cromwell said the truck did pull alongside them, but he didn't hear the words exchanged.

Witness didn't tell police about alleged confession

Under cross-examination by defence lawyer Randy Piercey on Friday morning, Doranadmitted he didn't tell investigators about Pope's confession.

He also didn't go to police until 24 hours after the incident.

"I seen everything on the news and I told my coworkers I was there and they were mindblown I didn't go to police right away," he said.

On Sept. 8, 2017, he gave a lengthy statement to the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary. Piercey said it was 31 pages long.

But nowhere in it did he mention Pope telling his father about stabbing Collins.

"I think about this all the time and I really don't know why I didn't bring that up," Doran told Piercey. "That's why I'm here today."

Piercey pointed out Doran recounted details at the preliminary inquiry that he later said might have been wrong. He asked if it was possible he might not have heard the exchange accurately, but Doran was steadfast.

"I'm sure," he responded.

The Crown and defence will spend the weekend mulling over a legal issue that cannot be reported as it will not be discussed in front of the jury.

Crown prosecutor Shawn Patton said Cromwell's testimony on Friday is likely the end of their case.

Defence lawyers Pearcey and Jon Noonan will present their case next week.

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