The defense attorney for the man who stabbed two men in the Damariscotta municipal parking lot March 10 is arguing his client acted in self-defense.
Attorney Philip Cohen said one of the alleged victims, Christopher “Chris” Hilton, “dragged” the defendant, Brandon B. Trank, from a vehicle in the otherwise empty parking lot at 2 a.m. and started to beat him.
Trank begged Hilton to stop, then stabbed him and his friend, James “Jamie” Courville, and ran away, Cohen said.
Hilton denied dragging Trank out of the vehicle and beating him, although he acknowledged confronting him while heavily intoxicated and placing him in a headlock.
Neither side has argued that Trank did not stab the men. Instead, the case seems to hinge on whether Trank acted within his rights under Maine law.
Trank, 29, formerly of Damariscotta, faces two Class A counts of elevated aggravated assault.
Assistant District Attorney Jonathan Liberman is the prosecutor; Justice Andrew Horton is hearing the case.
Trank has been at Two Bridges Regional Jail since the March 10 incident. His bail was set at $10,000 cash.
The state rested its case this afternoon. The defense will begin presenting their case when the trial continues Friday at 8:45 a.m. and is expected to conclude by the end of the day.
The Lincoln County News will continue to follow the trial and post updates here.
