HUNTER: Crown says Hamilton’s accused killer ‘hunted people’

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Based on the Crown’s submissions, Keith Overholt appears to be a gray, throbbing muscle full of violent resentment that allegedly manifested itself in murder.

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On November 9, 2020, Overholt allegedly reached the top in a seven-hour rampage that culminated in the fatal stabbing of 29-year-old Andrew Ainscow in a dirty alley in downtown Hamilton.

During his alleged odyssey of violence, or what the Crown has previously called a “murderous mission,” he also allegedly tried to extinguish the lives of two other random strangers.

Closing arguments were held Monday at the Hamilton Courthouse. John Sopinka. Overholt is charged with first-degree murder in Ainscow and two counts of attempted murder.

He pleaded not guilty to all charges.

In his closing argument to the jury, Crown prosecutor Robin Flumerfelt outlined the prosecution’s position.

“On November 9, 2020, Keith Overholt went on a killing spree,” Flumerfelt told the jury. “The evidence does not support any other conclusion. He hunted people.

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Flumerfelt described the violence as “random” and targeted at “innocent and defenseless victims.” The prosecutor said they couldn’t defend themselves or fight back.

“He intended to kill Thi Nguyen at 300 York St. He was going to kill Andrew Ainscow. And he was going to kill Joshua Stroud,” Flumerfelt said.

“The only difference with Andrew Ainscow is that Keith Overholt wasn’t bothered. And the evidence is clear on what Keith Overholt does when he’s not being interrupted.”

The surveillance video shown in court explains this situation.

The bloodlust began around 6:30 p.m., when the perpetrator, the Crown says Overholt, stepped down from the curb and began repeatedly hitting a slender woman named Thu Thi Nguyen in the head with a large wooden stick.

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She was 5 feet tall and weighed less than 100 pounds. The intervention of a stranger could have saved her life.

Flumerfelt called the evidence “overwhelming,” citing witnesses, experts, doctors and “THIS video.” The prosecutor says Overholt was wearing the same clothes at the time of the alleged attack as when he was arrested.

Light hoodie, black mask, dark pants and signature New Balance shoes. According to the Crown, the club used in the attack was found in the street and had Overholt’s DNA on it.

But the cargo carries a first-degree charge for the murder of Andrew Ainscow. Flumerfelt told the jury they had to determine whether Overholt was the killer and whether the killing was planned and intentional, marking it a murder first.

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The prosecutor again called the evidence “overwhelming,” saying Overholt changed his appearance after the first alleged attack. The Crown said police officers initially detained him but released him because he was wearing different clothes.

But shoes? According to the Crown, it’s the same.

– You see it in the alley before the murder. You see it in a murder. And you can see it when he leaves the alley after the murder,” the prosecutor added.

He said it was the same clothing the perpetrator was wearing in the attempted murder of Joshua Stroud. The prosecution maintained that underneath were the dark trousers he allegedly wore during the first attack.

Pointing to Overholt, Flumerfelt said, “And that’s exactly what Keith Overholt was wearing when he was arrested a few minutes later.”

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He was reportedly carrying a knife when police caught him. Flumerfelt said that both the knife and Overholt’s messengers had Ainscow’s blood on them.

The defense suggested that perhaps Ainscow was already dead when Overholt entered the alley. The Crown torpedoed this idea, calling it “demonstrably false.”

“The evidence shows that Keith Overholt was in the alley when Andrew was murdered. And only one killer remains: Keith Overholt,” Flumerfelt said.

“There is no doubt that Keith Overholt stabbed Andrew Ainscow in the neck more than 30 times and that he is guilty of his murder.”

He added that the motive was simply “random violence, widespread malice.” The desire to kill for the sake of killing.”

Stroud didn’t end up in the morgue because two people in the car honked, shouted and scared the suspect away.

The prosecutor noted that Ainscow “lived 29 years but only lasted four minutes with Keith Overholt.”

Jury deliberations begin on Tuesday.

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@HunterTOSun

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