Witness in Hamilton manslaughter trial recalls ‘blood on the hood’ after chaotic confrontation

In the chaotic moments inside a car where a 17-year-old was fatally stabbed more than two years ago, Tae Yoon (Dan) Park remembers a gun being pointed at him and his friend.

He's not sure which of the two guys in the front of the car held what appeared to be a black handgun - he remembers it more from the driver's side - but the then 27-year-old disarmed" him, Park testified in a Hamilton courtroom Thursday.

It was knocked to the floor of the back seat, where Park said he bent over and picked it up. As he reached down, he also picked up a baton that was extended.

When he looked up, his friend, then 18-year-old Dawson Farr, was already outside the car, along with the driver. He believes the smaller guy" still sat in the front passenger seat. Park got out and ran.

When he looked back, he said he knew something bad had happened.

I saw blood on the hood of the car," said the now 29-year-old.

The gun was actually a BB gun the 17-year-old victim and his two friends bought and painted black before the meetup Dec. 7, 2018, where they planned to rob Farr of 14 grams of cocaine, worth about $850.

Farr is on trial, facing manslaughter charges in the death of the 17-year-old. The boy cannot be named because of a publication ban.

Park is also charged with manslaughter in the case, but is being tried separately. He was called as a witness.

The trial has already heard from the victim's two friends who planned the robbery, Jacob Vogl, who drove his mom's white Kia Forte and Ayden Murphy, who acted as lookout. Court has heard they were expecting Farr to be alone.

Back on that December day, Park and Farr were friends. They worked together at an Ancaster restaurant and were roommates in a house on Swallow Crescent, near the crime scene at the foot of Pinewarbler Drive near Bruleville Park.

Park and another roommate ran errands that morning, including Park picking up a cut" for Farr - something to use as a cutting agent for cocaine.

He said he was not involved with selling the cocaine, but admitted to occasionally selling MDMA in the past.

That day, Park was supposed to borrow a friend's car in Ancaster to drive to St. Catharines to help with a music video. Farr and another friend were scheduled to work in the restaurant and Park was going to get a ride with them to get the car. But before they could go Farr asked Park to go with him to meet his friends."

Farr had never brought Park along to a drug sale before, but Park said he did not question the invitation. Their friend drove them to the other side of the park, and Farr and Park walked over to the white car.

Park recalled everyone exchanging greetings, before they were asked to get in the car. Farr got in behind the driver and Park behind the passenger. Park said one of the guys in the front asked if he had it," implying the drugs. Farr looked in his bag and within seconds the front seats moved back and pinned them. That's when things started to move quickly.

I saw a gun pointed at me," Park said, adding that he flailed" and used his hands as a shield" to knock the gun away. He feared for his life and for his friend, he said.

Park claims he was just focused on the gun and didn't see what others were doing. With the gun and baton in his hand, he had trouble opening the door, but his heart racing, eventually got out.

That's when he saw a third guy running toward him who appeared to be with the guys from the car. On Wednesday Murphy - the lookout - testified that Park pointed a gun at him. When asked whether this was possible, Park said possibly, but that he didn't remember.

He recalled running in fear back to the car, where he was joined by his friends. He thought he dropped the baton, but brought the gun into the car. He recalls someone in the car asking if the gun was real. He couldn't tell. Someone also suggested they keep it just in case" Farr wanted to turn himself in to police.

Park did not know or see whether Farr had a knife that day, but said his friend had told him he carried a knife before for protection. Park said he was not armed.

Park says he never discussed what Farr saw or did. Instead he went home, changed, took a cab to Ancaster, got the car and drove to St. Catharines as planned. He later learned someone had died.

Farr showed him threatening messages he received after. They were scared.

Park Googled lawyers for Farr to call before turning himself in to police. Farr apologized to him, saying he didn't want Park to be part of what happened, Park recalled. He briefly met with Farr at a Tim Hortons near the Hamilton police Mountain station on Saturday night - the day after the incident and just before Farr turned himself in. Park said he couldn't remember all the details from these conversations.

When Park contacted police and went to central station the next day he too was charged.

The trial continues Wednesday.

Nicole O'Reilly is a Hamilton-based reporter covering crime and justice for The Spectator. Reach her via email: noreilly@thespec.com