By Ashley Legassic

Accused in Kamloops manslaughter trial takes the stand

Mar 1, 2019 | 2:39 PM

KAMLOOPS — A Kamloops man accused in the beating death outside The Duchess on Tranquille in 2016 is telling a jury his version of events.

James David Bond’s B.C. Supreme Court manslaughter trial is currently underway in Kamloops, and Friday afternoon he began narrating surveillance footage from the evening of Dec. 29, 2016.

Bond told the jury he, his friend Dustan Pendrak, and Sarah Hupe arrived at the Duchess that night and were drinking, socializing and playing pool.

“It was good, we were really happy and having a good time,” Bond testified.

Bond narrated parts of surveillance footage from inside The Duchess. He said shortly after the group met Dunn at the pool tables inside, Dunn “intentionally” grinded or bumped into Hupe and she pushed him away.

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In the video, Bond is shown nudging Hupe’s foot after. He testified he then asked her what that was about and she said Dunn was being “a bit of a weirdo”.

A few minutes later, Dunn then bumped his pool cue into Hupe. Bond testified he did this “purposefully” and into Hupe’s crotch, and Dunn showed him what he did.

Bond testified he then asked what Dunn was doing and said Hupe was his girlfriend.

There was a brief period where the group wasn’t seen on surveillance footage, and Bond said that during this time him and Hupe had gone up to the bouncer to ask him to keep Dunn away.

The next time the group is on video, Bond is seeing helping Hupe do her jacket up before Dunn comes over.

“I was like ‘Oh great, here he comes again,’” Bond testified.

Bond said that a few minutes later Hupe became aggressive with Dunn, hitting him and telling him “You can’t do that to a chick.” Bond said he pulled Hupe back before Dunn asked what he did.

Dunn and Bond’s group can be seen several subsequent times on the surveillance footage, including toward the end of the night when Dunn is seen walking toward a sign, near where Bond’s group was. Bond testified that a bouncer stepped in front of Dunn, before Bond told him to leave them alone and that he wasn’t coming with them.

Dunn allegedly then gave the middle finger to Bond.

“Joking around I get into a fight stance (in response),” Bond said today.

After everyone had left the bar and was outside, Bond said Dunn made a remark about Hupe’s looks.

Bond is expected to undergo cross-examination after his lawyer Don Campbell finishes his direct questioning. The trial is expected to continue through next week.