Panhandler found guilty of second-degree murder
Posted March 1, 2011 6:50 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
A 24-year-old panhandler has been found guilty of second-degree murder in the fatal stabbing of a man she approached for change.
The August 2007 attack happened on Queen Street, west of Bathurst, after Nicole Kish asked Ross Hammond, 32, for money. The two exchanged words, which escalated to violence when Kish’s friends joined in.
It was then that Kish stabbed Hammond four times. He died in hospital several days later.
When he handed down the decision Tuesday, Justice Ian Nordheimer called both parties “rude and offensive” and “fuelled by alcohol.”
“If they had responded politely, what happened would not have taken place,” he said.
Hammond’s family spoke outside the court after the verdict was read, saying they were happy with the ruling.
“Ross is never coming back, but we couldn’t have asked for anything better in today’s outcome,” Hammond’s emotional widow, Kara Hammond, said.
“I’ve had to face the fact that I’ve had to move on with my life, and it’s very, very difficult. Ross will live in my heart for the end of my days.”
The Crown contended it was Kish who delivered the stab wounds to Hammond’s chest as he was being kicked and punched by the others.
The defence countered that while Hammond was indeed fatally stabbed, it couldn’t be proven that Kish administered the fatal wounds.
Kish had pleaded not guilty and did not take the stand during her trial.
