WILLIAMSPORT -- "He's killing me, he's killing me" were the last words of a man who was stabbed 35 times on a Williamsport street in 2017.
That was the testimony Monday as the homicide trial of Rashawn David Williams, 36, of Williamsport got underway in Lycoming County court.
Williams admits he fatally stabbed Scott Cole, 37, of Williamsport shortly after 1 a.m. on June 22, 2017, in the 300 block of Locust Street.
It was a "horrific, tragic death," Assistant Public Defender Nicole Spring said in her opening statement without providing any insight into what defense she will mount.
Evidence will show Cole, who was gay, was in a secret relationship with Williams that had deteriorated, Assistant District Attorney Martin Wade said.
Based on what was found on a cell phone, it appears the two had argued prior to the assault, an investigator told Cole's friends at Williams' preliminary hearing.
Illicit and prescription drugs and alcohol were found in Cole's blood. Wade said. He was on methadone, his mother said.
Friends of the victim sobbed as Wade detailed the stab wounds 15 stab wounds to Cole's back, and 10 to hiss face and neck.
One went through heart and another sliced off part of nose, he said. A tip of a knife was recovered from Cole's cheek bone.
A bent knife containing traces of blood with the tip missing was found in the kitchen sink of Williams' apartment, according preliminary hearing testimony.
Neighbors who responded to the "he's killing me" screams and the first police officer on the scene reported Cole was lying in a pool of blood.
"I saw blood everywhere," said Beth Luckner who described the screams were the "most scared" she had ever heard.
Travis McCartney testified as he was running to the scene yelling "what are you doing," the assailant ran into a nearby house. Williams was arrested there.
There was a strong odor of bleach in the house, Sgt. Marlin Smith said. Wade attributed that to Williams trying to clean up the blood that was on him.
The prosecutor told jurors the evidence will show Cole was killed intentionally and it was an over kill, and should be found guilty of first-degree murder.
Besides homicide, Williams in on trial on charges of aggravated assault, possession of an instrument of crime, tampering with evidence and obstruction of the administration of law. He is jailed without bail.
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