Jerrick Stalthanee leaving Court of King's Bench on Tuesday. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Court proceedings

Witness at manslaughter trial testifies victim hit repeatedly in the head with object that sounded like a frying pan

Apr 2, 2024 | 3:00 PM

The potential lone witness to a violent assault that occurred at a home in Black Lake, says the sound of his friend getting hit was comparable to the one made when something gets hit with a frying pan.

Rodney Broussie made the comment while testifying on Tuesday at the Jerrick Stalthanee manslaughter trial at Court of King’s Bench in Prince Albert,

Stalthanee, who was 21 at time of his arrest in late 2021, is alleged responsible for the death of 27-year-old Arley Cook.

Broussie described how on the night of Dec. 13, 2021, he, Cook and Stalthanee were together at the house where Stalthanee was living and while sitting in the porch area, were sharing a bottle of whiskey.

“It was alright at first,” he replied when asked by Crown prosecutor Stephanie Lavallee what the mood was like.

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Broussie, who had also consumed another bottle with Cook earlier in the day, then explained how at one point he passed out but was awoken by a loud noise. He then recalled that when he opened his eyes, he saw Stalthanee standing beside Cook and hitting him repeatedly in the head with some sort of object.

However when questioned by the Crown prosecutor about the weapon, Broussie said he could not recall what it was, only stating it was very loud and that Cook, who was still sitting and very intoxicated, was doing nothing to defend himself.

“I jumped up,” Broussie said, stating he the intervened and pushed Stalthanee up against a nearby wall and asked why he was hitting a drunk guy.

Arley Cook was 27 years old when he passed away on Dec. 14, 2021. (Facebook)

Following a short confrontation between Stalthanee and Broussie, Stalthanee then went into the house, and Broussie went back over to his friend who was lying on the floor. Determined to leave the house, and even neglecting to put his own shoes on, Broussie described how he picked up Cook off the floor and left.

Once outside, Broussie said Cook came to and was able to walk a bit on his own. The two men then began walking back to Cook’s house and soon after Broussie said he heard what sounded like a snowmobile starting up.

Not far down the road, Broussie said the snowmobile was approaching and as it got within a few feet, he heard the engine being revved. Broussie then described how he immediately pushed Cook away into a snowbank and he in turn was struck on the left side by the vehicle.

Claiming it was Stalthanee who was driving, Broussie told the Crown he figured it was because the sound of the snowmobile came from the yard they had just left and there was no one else there.

Broussie and Cook made it to their destination and Broussie explained how his friend who was walking “all right” by then, went inside on his own. Broussie then returned to his own home and went to sleep.

Hours later however, Cook, was found dead in a bedroom of the home, and there was blood coming from his nose and mouth.

When asked by the Crown if he had a criminal record, Broussie replied no.

Prior to this week’s trial, there were preliminary inquiry hearing and Broussie who was scheduled to testify failed to show. On Tuesday, he confirmed that on one occasion it was because he was too intoxicated to come to court and that on the other he was working.

And even on Tuesday, after an hour and a half on the stand, Broussie showed signs of falling asleep – slumping over, holding his head in his hands, and just appearing generally disinterested in answering any questions.

Five days have been set aside for the trial. Testimony on Monday revealed that while there were blood stains found in the house where the altercation occurred, none of it was connected to Cook.

There was also blood found on the snowmobile’s throttle, as well as on a black and white bandana that was wrapped around the front of the helmet’s face guard, but again none of this could be traced to Cook.

Among the items seized by police at the scene was a teapot, which a police officer testified was alleged to have been used during the altercation.

Also expected to testify this week are both a forensic and neuro-pathologist which should shed more light on the cause of death.

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @nigelmaxwell