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Security tight as Denecho King trial begins

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Shane Magee/NNSL photo Denecho Noel Calvin King is escorted to a van on Monday after the first day of his preliminary hearing at the Yellowknife courthouse on charges of second degree murder and attempted murder. Nov. 21, 2016

The trial of accused murderer Denecho King began Monday with witness testimony and heightened security in Supreme Court.

Metal detector scans and bag searches were required for those entering the courtroom, where King, 25, sat waiting to be tried on charges of murder and attempted murder in connection with a Dec. 14, 2014 attack that took the life of John Wifladt and seriously injured Colin Digness.

King, who pleaded not guilty to the charges last November, had elected to be tried by a judge alone.

In his opening statement, prosecutor Alex Godfrey told Justice Andrew Mahar the Crown wouldn't be offering direct evidence – or a motive. Instead, Godfrey said the defence will focus on piecing together the early hours of Dec. 14 through witness testimony, photo and video evidence, along with expert evidence to prove King’s guilt.

“This is a circumstantial case,” said Godfrey.

Monday’s first witness was Wifladt’s 37-year-old brother, who stared down King as he walked to the stand.

Wifladt recounted his brother’s closeness with Digness. He said that on the evening of Dec.13, he had met up with John and Digness for a night of drinking in downtown Yellowknife. The pair invited him to a party in Ndilo, which they later attended, but he declined. He testified that was the last time he saw his brother alive.

Two more witnesses, who had both attended the same Christmas party in Ndilo, were called to testify Monday afternoon. King’s lawyer, Jay Bran, cross-examined Wifladt’s 44-year-old cousin about a verbal altercation he witnessed between John, Digness and another party-goer. The party-goer took the stand next.

He said he and the two friends were just “barking at each other,” and that he went straight home after the confrontation.

Through an agreed statement of facts, the court heard a Yellowknife cab driver picked up John and Digness in Ndilo before dropping them off in the city at a Sunridge apartment – where they were found by first responders just hours later.

The trial will continue tomorrow with testimony from law enforcement and first responders. The Crown is expected to present evidence over the next three and a half weeks.

After two Crown witnesses who testified during an earlier preliminary hearing said they felt threatened and concerned for their safety, Mahar granted Godfrey’s request for screens – testimonial aids – to be placed in the courtroom to block them from being able to see King.

Court heard one of the witnesses would avoid telephone calls, while the other said they were threatened in downtown Yellowknife following their earlier testimony.

The two witnesses, along with surviving victim Colin Digness, are expected to testify at a later date.