EVERETT — An Everett man on trial for murder told a Snohomish County jury that he threw a single punch in self-defense but later tried to break up the fatal attack on Donald Barker.
William Gobat, 35, took the stand Thursday during the last day of testimony. Gobat is charged with second-degree murder in connection with the Dec. 27 beating and stabbing death of Barker.
Barker was dying when a woman heard his cries for help outside Madison Elementary School. He had been stabbed and kicked or punched in the head. Both injuries were severe enough to cause his death.
Prosecutors believe Barker had gone to the school to buy some crack cocaine.
Gobat told jurors that two weeks prior to the killing, his friend, a drug dealer, had sent him to deliver some crack to Barker. He said Barker shorted him, handing over a $1 bill wrapped in a receipt.
Prosecutors allege that when Barker called the dealer Dec. 27 to buy more drugs, she sent Gobat and two other men, Jimmy Ruiz Jr. and Patrick Griffiths, to collect on the earlier debt.
“Don Barker paid that debt with his life,” Snohomish County deputy prosecutor Matt Baldock told jurors in closing arguments.
The defendant’s attorney, Jesse Cantor, argued that prosecutors were “overcharging” Gobat. His client didn’t deliver any of the fatal injuries and didn’t assist the other two men.
Gobat attempted to break up the struggle between Barker and Griffiths. He also had no idea that Ruiz was armed with a knife and didn’t witness the stabbing, Cantor said.
Cantor argued that Griffiths, who had blood on his shoe, likely delivered the fatal blow to Barker and is more culpable than his client.
Griffiths earlier this year pleaded guilty to first-degree robbery in exchange for his testimony against the codefendants. Ruiz pleaded guilty last week to second-degree murder while armed with a deadly weapon.
Baldock told jurors that Griffiths also is guilty of murder but his deal with prosecutors doesn’t mean that Gobat is innocent.
Jurors are expected to begin deliberations Friday.
Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463; hefley@heraldnet.com.
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