Murder case: Canton man arguing self-defense for 2023 stabbing at apartment complex

CANTON ‒ A city man charged with murder in connection with a fatal stabbing on June 28 acted in self-defense, his attorney told a jury on Monday.

In his opening statement at the trial of Willis R. Kennedy, defense attorney Anthony Wise said Keith D. Greggs threatened to kill the accused, showed him the gun that was tucked into his waistband, and fired one or two shots.

Wise said Kennedy, 39, stabbed Greggs, 54, until Greggs and his gun no longer threatened him.

Prosecutors paint a different picture.

Security cameras captured the majority of the confrontation, which occurred at a Stark Metropolitan Housing Authority apartment complex, Girard Gardens, at 2215 Tuscarawas St. E, Seth Marcum, assistant county prosecutor, said.

"We expect that you'll see and hear about how the defendant got into the victim's face, and confronted him in the doorway of the apartment building," the prosecutor said in his opening statement. "We expect that you'll see how the victim here turns around, walks away."

Marcum said Greggs did have a gun.

"But when somebody is coming at you with a knife from behind, and just starts stabbing, ladies and gentlemen, a gun is only going to go so far and unless you get lucky with that first shot, that's how we end up here," he said.

Stark County Common Pleas Judge Natalie R. Haupt is presiding over the trial, which is expected to continue with testimony, possibly lasting until Thursday.

Willis R. Kennedy's murder trial in Canton

Kennedy told police he "went to town" and "went to work" on Greggs, the prosecutor said. He said Kennedy went for the left side of Greggs' body because that's where the vital organs are. Kennedy told police that he blacked out before stabbing Greggs, Marcum said.

The defense attorney said the defendant was at his home when Greggs "walked into the building, exchanged some words with Mr. Kennedy, then threatened to kill him. Lifted up his shirt, pulled out a gun. That was when Mr. Kennedy decided to defend himself."

Wise said that after Greggs pulled the gun from his waistband, he said, "I've got something for him." The defense attorney said a witness will testify about hearing those words said about Kennedy.

"That's when Mr. Kennedy acted," Wise said. "That's when he turned back around. That's when he walked out the door, and yes, that's when he started stabbing Mr. Greggs - after Mr. Greggs had pulled that gun and threatened to kill him."

Wise said the two men did not know each other.

Wise said Kennedy was outside with his puppy on the evening of the stabbing after having had the brakes on his vehicle repaired. He said Kennedy drove his mechanic home after the stabbing, then returned to Girard Gardens.

Greggs had methamphetamine and cocaine in his system at the time of the incident, Wise said.

The defense attorney said Kennedy had the right to use lethal force if he felt he was going to suffer great harm, and had no duty to retreat.

June 28: Canton man charged with aggravated murder after fatal stabbing at apartment complex

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Reach Nancy at 330-580-8382 or nancy.molnar@cantonrep.com. On X, formerly known as Twitter: @nmolnarTR.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Trial starts for Willis Kennedy, accused of killing Keith Greggs