Jury in Yellowknife hears first responder and witness testimony in the second-degree murder trial of Zakk Lafferty over Behchokǫ teen’s 2023 death.
Opening of the Trial in Yellowknife
The jury trial into the 2023 death of 17-year-old Deijean Drybones began Monday at the N.W.T. Supreme Court in Yellowknife. Zakk Lafferty, now 26, is charged with second-degree murder in connection with the teen’s death in Behchokǫ in August 2023. Justice David Gates is presiding over the ten-day trial.
Prosecutor Outlines the Case
Crown prosecutor Brendan Green opened by telling jurors they will hear from first responders, the forensic pathologist who performed Drybones’s autopsy, and people who were present the night he died. Green said the Crown’s case will rely heavily on what witnesses and responders observed in the chaotic aftermath of the stabbing.
RCMP Testimony Describes Final Moments
The Crown’s first witness, RCMP Constable Blake McNeil, recounted arriving at a Behchokǫ residence to find Drybones lying on the bathroom floor with a stab wound to the chest. McNeil said he applied pressure with a towel while his partner gave first aid.
During that time, Drybones—panicked and in pain—asked if he was going to die and identified Lafferty as the person who stabbed him. McNeil said Drybones later explained that Lafferty believed Drybones had arranged for a friend to beat him up.
An audio recording made by first responders was played in court, in which Drybones can be heard naming Lafferty as his attacker and saying, “If I die, tell my mom I love her.” Four others found in the home appeared intoxicated and were arrested for mischief.
Witnesses Recall a Night of Heavy Drinking
On the second day of testimony, the Crown called three additional witnesses. Two were at the house that night; both told the court they had been drinking and smoking marijuana. One said Drybones spent much of the evening on the phone. Another admitted to fighting with Lafferty while drunk and said both were injured. Both said their memories of the night were unclear due to blackout intoxication.
A third witness told jurors they spoke to Drybones by phone five times that night. During the fourth call, Drybones said he had been stabbed. The witness immediately phoned police.
What the Court Will Hear Next
The trial is expected to continue through next week with further cross-examinations and expert medical testimony. The forensic pathologist who conducted Drybones’s autopsy is scheduled to appear, followed by additional witnesses to clarify the events leading up to the stabbing.
Why the Case Matters
Drybones’s death and the resulting trial have drawn attention across the Northwest Territories, highlighting the impact of alcohol-fuelled violence in small communities and the ongoing challenges of seeking justice for northern youth. The verdict, expected later this month, will be closely watched by residents of Behchokǫ and beyond.
