Opinion ID: 77443
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Sullivan's Trial Testimony

Text: 16 Sullivan testified that Smith had worked for and lived with him but had moved from the Sullivan home a few months prior to April 27, 1989. Sullivan became suspicious of Janice and Smith's relationship in February 1989. 17 The defendant Sullivan admitted that he usually carried a small knife and had a knife at Kitty's house on April 27, 1989. Sullivan further admitted that he had fought with other men over Janice in the past. In one such incident in 1975, when Sullivan learned that Janice was having an affair with another man, Sullivan attacked the man with a Coke bottle and cut his throat; however, Sullivan alleged that the man had run over Sullivan with a car earlier in the day, and that was the real motivation for the assault. Sullivan also admitted that he had assaulted the same man upon learning that he was again having an affair with Janice in 1979 or 1980, but alleged that the man had attacked him earlier in the day. Sullivan further acknowledged that he may have made threats against Smith, but testified that he never intended to kill Smith and did not mean any statements that he did intend to kill Smith. As to the incident the week before Smith's death, Sullivan acknowledged stabbing Smith with a screwdriver, but he claimed that Smith threatened and ran at him. Thus, the defendant Sullivan acknowledged attacking and assaulting Janice's various boyfriends prior to April 27, 1989, but claimed his attacks on her boyfriends were because they either threatened or assaulted him earlier. 18 As to the events of April 27, 1989, Sullivan testified that he and Janice were planning to meet. When Sullivan went to his mother-in-law's house to pick Janice up, his father-in-law told him she was at Kitty's, so he proceeded to Kitty's house. Sullivan denied knowing that Janice had filed for divorce or that she had obtained a restraining order against him. 19 When he arrived at Kitty's, Sullivan briefly spoke to Kitty, her daughter Kim, and David Hyatt (Kitty's boyfriend), and then proceeded to the side door, where he met Janice. Sullivan admitted talking with Janice at Kitty's house. Thus, there was no need for Sullivan to go to the backyard in order to see Janice. 20 Further, Kim testified that Janice told Sullivan not to go to the backyard. Sullivan claimed that he did not recall the substance of his conversation with Janice. Sullivan admitted, however, that after he spoke to Janice, he assumed Smith was at Kitty's. Sullivan then went into the backyard as Janice went into the house, walked around the back of the house, but did not see anyone. According to Sullivan, Smith then jumped on him from the side. Sullivan testified that Smith grabbed and hit him, and the two tossed, tumbled, and fought. 21 The defendant Sullivan even admitted that he did not see a weapon on Smith and that Sullivan drew his own knife on Smith. Specifically, Sullivan testified that Smith come at [Sullivan] with both hands and struck him all over. Sullivan then testified: We tossed and tumbled and fought. During the fight, I drawed my knife. In response to the question of whether he knew or saw at that time whether Smith had a knife in his hand, Sullivan stated No, sir. When questioned again, he stated: I never seen a weapon. Sullivan testified that they broke away momentarily while still on the ground, and he was able to take from his pocket a small knife, less than two inches long, and open it. In response to the question whether he saw a weapon in Smith's hand at that time, Sullivan replied: No, sir. Everything was happening too fast. 22 Sullivan's own testimony established that Sullivan had a knife and Smith did not have a weapon. Sullivan also admitted that at some point they broke away from each other. Rather than try to run away, Sullivan admitted that he got out his knife when they broke away. Sullivan claimed that he could not run away at that time because he recently had hernia surgery. Moreover, according to Sullivan, Smith then came back at him, and neither of the men broke away thereafter. Thus, Sullivan's version, in effect, is that they broke away, Sullivan got out his knife, and Smith, who had no knife, came back at Sullivan. 23 According to Sullivan, Smith sustained the stab wounds as they struggled with each other on the ground. Sullivan claimed that one stab wound to Smith occurred as Sullivan attempted to get Smith off of him. However, Sullivan admitted that Smith never was in possession of Sullivan's knife. Sullivan did sustain a scratch across his stomach from his own knife during their struggle. 24 Despite Dr. Lauridson's testimony that Smith had seven deep, gaping stab wounds, Sullivan testified that he did not intend to stab Smith, but was only trying to get Smith off him. When they separated again, Smith ran, and Sullivan got off the ground. Sullivan did not pursue Smith, but told him he would get him another time. 25 After he left Kitty's, the defendant Sullivan went to his mother's house and then left there and drove around. Sullivan admitted that at some point on the drive, Sullivan threw his knife away. The next day, Sullivan was informed that Smith had died, and he made arrangements to turn himself in to the police. 3