"He was barely conscious," Const. Ann Marie Huckson testified Wednesday at the first day of the trial of the man accused of inflicting these injuries.
"There was a lot of blood on floor," the 24-year officer told prosecutor David Didiodato. "I looked at his injuries and they were substantial."
She described an injury to the man's right arm and a large one on the top of his head.
Andre Duplin, who is in his 70s, has pleaded not guilty to assault with a weapon, aggravated assault and attempted murder.
At the beginning of the proceedings, he waived his constitutional right to have the trial conducted in French, his first language.
With the assistance of an interpreter, Duplin indicated to his lawyer Jennifer Tremblay-Hall that he understood he had this right, but wanted his trial in both languages. He said he just needed an interpreter for the few English words he doesn't understand.
Ontario Court Justice Andrew Buttazzoni said he was satisfied that Duplin did understand and the trial proceeded in English with the interpreter remaining in the courtroom to assist the accused when required.
Huckson was the first officer to arrive at the mobile home, located 31 Rupert Acres Drive, after receiving the 8:32 p.m. call.
When she approached the residence, a man she later learned was Duplin, was standing in the doorway of the home with a bottle of beer, she said.
The officer said he didn't reply when she asked his name and what he was doing there.
Const. Frank Senecal had arrived on the scene, and she said she motioned to him to come and deal with Duplin, whom she had moved out of way so she could get inside.
Huckson told the court she recognized Paquette, because there had been other minor incidents at the residence.
She said she later noticed a large machete leaning against a freezer on the deck of the home.
During cross-examination by Tremblay-Hall, Huckson agreed Duplin appeared a little confused and dismayed when he was standing in the entranceway.
"Not comprehending what you were saying," the defence suggested.
"Possibly," she replied.
When Tremblay-Hall asked if she noticed any marijuana in the home, Huckson stated she noted a lot of alcohol bottles and an ashtray filled with butts on the table.
The lawyer showed her two photographs from the scene and the witness indicated there was a baggie that "appeared to have something in it."
"I didn't notice anything specific on the table. I just know there was a lot of clutter."
Senecal testified that Duplin made some utterances when he was dealing with him and he arrested the man for assault with a weapon and attempted murder.
After putting Duplin in his cruiser, the 24-year officer said he read the accused his rights to counsel at 8:52 p.m. and when asked if he understood Duplin said yes and "made more utterances."
Two minutes later, Senecal said he gave Duplin a caution, which the man said he understood and transported him to the Sault Ste. Marie OPP detachment, arriving there at 9:16 p.m.
Duplin has his first conversation with a duty counsel, 20 minutes later, he told Didiodato.
Senecal said he was subsequently asked by a detective to get a consent for search from Duplin for a breath test and then later was directed to arrest him for aggravated assault.
He agreed with Tremblay-Hall during cross-examination that he smelled the odour of alcohol on her client's breath when he first arrived at the residence.
As well, he indicated Duplin was unsteady on his feet, slurring his words and had blood shot eyes.
When the defence suggested the senior appeared confused and dazed, Senecal replied he "had a blank look on his face."
"He was intoxicated and appeared somewhat confused," Tremblay-Hall maintained.
"That's fair," the officer conceded.
Senecal said Duplin spoke with a French accent, but there was no language barrier as he appeared to understand when he was asked questions and answered them.
"Your client understood English very well. There were no issues at all," he later told Tremblay-Hall.
Buttazzoni also heard evidence from Const. Denis Villebrun, an identification unit officer, who took photographs of the scene, the victim and the accused.
He showed the court photos of the machete, leaning up against a freezer, on what he described as a porch area.
There was a blood stain and droplets in close proximity to the weapon — which was entered as evidence — he said.
A saturation pattern of blood splatter was on the recliner. There was blood staining on the wall, and blood pattern on the cieling above the chair, the 14-year OPP member told the court.
Villebrun referred to a photo that showed the cross section of a finger tip located on a coffee table, next to the recliner.
The officer also provided photos of Paquette, taken at the Sault Area Hospital, that showed injuries to the man's abdomen area, as well as ones taken later at Toronto's Sunnybrook Hospital, that showed a stitched area on his head.
Photos of Duplin revealed a blood-like substance on his hands and his jeans, the witness said.
During cross-examination by the defence, Villebrun agreed there was no blood substance above Duplin's waist or on his slippers.
The trial continues today.
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