Witnesses Say Suspect Drug-Crazed Man Accused Of Stabbing Friend In Narcotics Dispute

Hyped up on methamphetamine and wielding a knife, Frank Anderson slashed and stabbed his victim, a Kootenai County prosecutor said Friday.

Even when the man broke free, Anderson followed, stabbing him again and again in the back, Deputy Prosecutor Scot Nass told a jury during the first day of Anderson’s attempted murder trial.

By the time the assault was over, John Gray had been stabbed nine times.

Anderson, 32, of Coeur d’Alene, is charged with second-degree attempted murder in the May stabbing of Gray.

However, Joel Ryan, Anderson’s attorney, argued Friday that Gray was the one who started the fight. He also said Anderson was not in his right mind when the fight started.

Witnesses testified Friday the tussle started because of a drug deal gone bad. Anderson appeared to be strung out on methamphetamine, a drug that can cause paranoia and mood swings.

Witnesses said Gray, a 26-year-old Coeur d’Alene man, had spent the night of May 22 at Anderson’s home. Methamphetamine sat on a mirror in Anderson’s bedroom, a wad of money lay nearby. So did a pocket knife and a fishing knife.

When Josh Barney, an acquaintance of Anderson’s, arrived at the home, Anderson was in his room by himself and Gray was outside on the front porch.

Anderson was acting strangely, pacing back and forth, talking in incomplete sentences, swearing and trying to saw off the head of a sledge hammer, Barney said.

“He looked like he’d been on methamphetamine for a few days,” Barney testified Friday.

Anderson told Barney that Gray had ripped him off during a drug deal.

“I wish I had my gun, I’d take care of this right now,” Barney heard Anderson say. Anderson then repeatedly threatened to kill Gray, Barney said.

Barney and his friends tried to calm down the angry man but got scared and started to leave as Anderson began sticking a 4-inch fishing knife up his sleeve.

As they headed out to their car, Anderson followed and began fighting with Gray on the front porch.

Anderson jumped on top of Gray, swinging his hands downward in a stabbing motion, Barney testified. Gray got up and started staggering away with Anderson in pursuit, stabbing at Gray’s back.

But Ryan, Anderson’s attorney, told the jury Friday that it was Gray who first grabbed Anderson.

And Ryan said no witnesses actually saw a knife in Anderson’s hands in the dark of night.

Gray was treated for puncture wounds, some all the way through his arm. Gray survived but still bears the scars, Nass said.

The trial will continue next week.

, DataTimes