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Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

Accused had no idea hit was fatal

By: Mike McIntyre

Posted: 05/30/2012 1:00 AM

A former University of Manitoba football player had no idea a one-punch knockout inside a Winnipeg bar would ultimately lead to the death of his victim.

"It didn't seem like it really bothered him. It was almost kind of funny (to him) that he only had to hit the kid once," Tiffaney Van Norman told a jury Tuesday.

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Her friend, Jeremy Botelho, has pleaded not guilty to manslaughter for the April 2010 killing of Kelly Clay, 18. Botelho doesn't deny hitting Clay once in the face but says it was done in self-defence.

Van Norman was the final Crown witness at the trial, which began last week. Botelho is expected to take the stand this morning.

Van Norman was with Botelho immediately after he left the Nor-Villa Motor Hotel on Henderson Highway and before anyone knew Clay was gravely injured.

"He said the kid was in his face all night," Van Norman said.

Jurors have previously heard there was bad blood brewing between Botelho and Clay that night. Several of Clay's friends testified Botelho had previously assaulted Clay "for no reason." They said Clay and Botelho crossed paths again just before closing time. Botelho allegedly whispered something in Clay's ear, laughed and walked away. Moments later, Clay was unconscious on the dance floor, and Botelho had fled.

Defence lawyer Ryan Rolston has suggested Clay actually took a swing at Botelho but missed, only to be hit with the single punch that caused him to fall to the floor and strike his head.

A pathologist previously testified Clay died as a result of blunt-force trauma to the head. Clay had a blood-alcohol level nearly twice the legal limit for drivers and cocaine and marijuana in his system, court was told.

Clay was part of the provincial title-winning West Kildonan Wolverines team in 2009. He was also part of a high school-age team that went to a tournament in Vail, Colo., in 2008, winning the Division II championship. Clay was named to the tournament all-star team in the midfield position.

Botelho made headlines in September 2009 when the rookie returned a missed Simon Fraser University field goal for a record 129-yard touchdown. He was named the Canada West conference special-teams football athlete of the week for the play.

www.mikeoncrime.com

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition May 30, 2012 B2