Trial opens in bloody, gang-related melee

Attorneys gave opening arguments today in a trial that a prosecutor described as a gang fight on Oct. 28, 2009, that ended with two men being stabbed. But defense attorneys essentially argued that the prosecution lacks enough evidence to convict their client.
Adam Doe, 19, who was born in Ivory Coast and came to the United States when he was 13, is charged with two counts of second-degree assault in a case where witnesses agreed that he did not do the stabbing.
Deputy Prosecutor Steve Garvin told the jury that Doe was an accomplice and “legally is responsible” even though …

Attorneys gave opening arguments today in a trial that a prosecutor described as a gang fight on Oct. 28, 2009, that ended with two men being stabbed. But defense attorneys essentially argued that the prosecution lacks enough evidence to convict their client.

Adam Doe, 19, who was born in Ivory Coast and came to the United States when he was 13, is charged with two counts of second-degree assault in a case where witnesses agreed that he did not do the stabbing.

Deputy Prosecutor Steve Garvin told the jury that Doe was an accomplice and “legally is responsible” even though he didn’t do the stabbing. Garvin said the case started when Kenneth Budick, a member of street gang came out of Club Uno in downtown Spokane. Doe and other members of a rival gang saw Budick, who then made gestures of disrespect. That triggered a melee that involved several persons and also resulted in the stabbing of another man, Charles L. Lucious.

But Budick - who suffered a stab wound during the fight - took the witness stand and said he wouldn’t know Doe if he saw him on the street. And Budick denied any knowledge that Doe was nearby when the stabbing took place.

Defense attorney Kevin Griffin told the jury that a bouncer will testify that he saw the stabbing. The bouncer is expected to say that Doe was present but that he was not involved with the altercation with Budick.

The man prosecutors previously said committed the stabbing, John D. Proctor, was acquitted by a jury last October.