Raymond Stacey charged with 2nd-degree murder of Clifford Comerford

A St. John's man was stabbed to deathallegedlyby his co-worker on Sunday evening,inside a minivan that was transporting them both to work.

Raymond Stacey, 23, appeared in St. John's provincial court Monday where he was charged withsecond-degree murderin relation to the deathof Clifford Comerford.

Shortly after 9 p.m. Sunday, paramedics and police were called to Greenwood Crescent off Topsail Roadacross from the former Sobey's Square shopping mall.

Brother of deceased stabbing victim Clifford Comerford speaks

10 years ago

Duration 2:20

Trent Comerford speaks about the death of his brother Clifford Sunday night. Raymond Stacey, 23, has been charged with the 2nd degreee murder of Clifford Comerford

TheRoyal Newfoundland Constabulary later confirmed that a man had died, but did not elaborate at the time.

Members of Comerford's family confirmed that Clifford Comerford, 41,died Sunday night at the Health Sciences Centreafter being stabbed.

Was heading to work

Prior to the accused's court appearance, Comerford's sisterMary Winsor told reporters her brother was on his way to report for the night shift at the barn where chickens are raised for Country Ribbon when he was assaulted.

"My brother was picked up for work bythe company van, which goes around to pick up all the coworkers for the chicken farm at 8:30 yesterday evening," Winsor said.

The stabbing happened inside the minivan.

Winsor said he was rushed to the Health Sciences Centre in St. John's. He was pronounced dead an hour later.

Comerford'sbrother, Trent Comerford, told CBC News early Monday thatrelatives werecalled to the hospital. When they arrived shortly after 10 p.m., they were told that CliffordComerfordhad died.

"The doctor and the priest and theRNCcame in and told us what happened, and told us that he was deceased," TrentComerfordsaid.

"We just know he was stabbed, we don't know how many times.I don't know. They won't tell us anything."

The killing has left thefamily questioning why anyone would hurt a man whom they described as quiet and harmless.

"My brother Cliff was just as quiet as could be, he was kindhearted, he wouldn't hurt so much as a flea," Winsor said.

"He was brutally, brutally assaulted and stabbed several times, and where we are evenunable to see the body it's that bad."

According to the RNC, there were witnesses to the attack.

She said her mother, whohas Parkinson's, and her father, who is recovered from a stroke, are devastated by the loss of their son.

Winsor said her brother enjoyed time with his cat and dogand was in constant contact with his family.

He worked with the company contracted by Country Ribbon for 13-and-a-half years.

'I'm not going to let mybrother go this way'

TrentComerfordsaid he went tothe scene of his brother's death early Monday morning, trying to make sense of what hadhappened.

"I can't sleep, so I'm just here this morning," he said.

"Hewas my brother. It's a hard way to look at it, but I had to come see where he got killed."

His brother was the eldest ofsix siblings.

"I'm not going to let mybrother go this way. Somebody got tobe held liable for the actions they took last night, and took the life of my brother, an uncle, a brother," TrentComerfordsaid.

"At least now people will have a name behind the stabbing victim of last night's incident."

Criminal record

The police located Raymond Stacey at his house about an hour after the alleged murder.

Stacey, who is accused of killingComerford, has a2-page criminal record, including convictions fortheft and possessing a weapon.

He is listed in court documents as living in St. John's.

Stacey, who has no serious violent offences on his criminal record, worked with Comerfordfor a company that was contracted by Country Ribbon.

Threats and curses were sent back and forth during Stacey's courtappearance between family members and Stacey, with one person calling him a coward.

Stacey was sent for an overnight psychiatric assessment.

He is expected back in court on Tuesday.

Meanwhile,RNCoffiers are searching the area where emergency personnel responded to the call the night before, presumably to look for the weapon, which has not yet been recovered.