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Trial underway for man accused in deadly stabbing

By: Mike McIntyre

Posted: 10/29/2012 1:53 PM | Last Modified: 10/29/2012 2:24 PM | Updates

Derek Spence

A jury trial is underway for a Winnipeg man accused of stabbing of a young father of two to death during a dispute over a few dollars.

Leonard Leslie Murdock, 25, pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder Monday at the start of his week-long trial.

Derek Robert Spence, 24, was fatally knifed in the 500 block of Manitoba Avenue in August 2010.

Police say Spence had gotten involved in a fight with another man over "a small amount of money", at which time he was allegedly attacked by the knife-wielding Murdock and stabbed once in the chest. He was rushed to hospital but could not be saved.

"I don't think there's any amount of money that would justify this type of situation, but my understanding is it does appear to be for a small amount of money (of less than $10)," Winnipeg police Const. Jason Michalyshen said at the time. "Many times it's over very insignificant things and that truly is a tragedy."

Family and friends of Spence said he'd been working as a roofer, and that he had an eight-year-old daughter and four-year-old son who did not live with him.

Michalyshen said the victim and the accused were "acquaintances."

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