Forensic pathologist details massive blood loss in stabbing victim’s fatal wound

Tyquan Brown was killed by a single stab wound to the chest - 11.5 centimetres deep - that pierced through rib bone and three major arteries.

The result was massive and rapid blood loss, forensic pathologist Dr. Jay Maxwell said in a Hamilton courtroom Wednesday. Even with immediate medical intervention the otherwise-healthy 23-year-old man may still have died.

Maxwell testified at the first-degree murder trial of Dylon Duarte, who's accused of fatally stabbing Brown on Sherman Avenue North around 12:20 a.m. on May 31, 2019.

A substantial amount of force would have been needed to cut through bone - Brown's second right rib was nicked," Maxwell said.

From looking at the wound it appeared the knife was single-edged - sharp on one side and flatter on the other. And there was no evidence it was serrated.

Brown had no defensive wounds, but did have a few scrapes on his forehead and shin, possibly from hitting pavement.

Video from the night of the stabbing shows a fatally injured Brown run into an alley, near the stabbing scene, where he collapsed on the pavement and remained unmoving for 15 minutes until he was found by police without vital signs.

Court has already heard that Brown attended a small gathering on May 30 at 180 Sherman Ave. N., where the group watched the Toronto Raptors game and had some drinks. Also at the gathering that night was Duarte's ex-girlfriend Hope VanKoughnett.

She and Duarte had argued earlier that day and he was looking for her, including trying to contact her more than 100 times through messages and calls. In one of the text messages, he threatened to hurt random people. He also threatened to hurt himself.

With the help of friends, who testified during the trial, Duarte eventually found VanKoughnett and the group outside on Sherman. Witnesses said Duarte ran over, was yelling and waving a knife. During the chaos, Brown was stabbed and ran alone into the alleyway, while the group chased Duarte back to his friend's car.

There were multiple knives seized during the investigation, including from Anthony Plaenk, who drove the red Jetta in which Duarte fled. Hamilton police said the murder weapon was never found. The prosecution alleges it was a large knife that disappeared from Plaenk's residence.

Maxwell was the last witness for the prosecution. The defence will call evidence Friday.

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