Missoula Man Stabs Roommate 35 Times – Claims Self Defense
53 year-old Brent Hawkey is in the Missoula County Jail on felony charges of assault with a weapon and aggravated assault after stabbing his roommate multiple times on Sunday, sending him to the hospital.
According to court documents, Hawkey himself called 9-1-1 to report that he had stabbed his roommate after allegedly being attacked and using the knife in self defense. When Missoula County Sheriff's deputies arrived at Hawkey's residence on Highway 93 North, the defendant appeared uninjured, but the victim was unconscious and unresponsive on the floor, and had been stabbed multiple times.
Deputy Missoula County Attorney Mark Handelman asked Judge Landee Holloway for $75,000 bail, due to the serious nature of the victim's injuries, and that the defendant himself appeared uninjured.
"The defendant has been charged with aggravated assault after stabbing his roommate 35 times in the head, face, neck, chest, back and arms," Handelman said. "The defendant claims he acted in self-defense, but law enforcement found no evidence to back up his claim. He had no visible injuries, and medical staff said his story was not consistent with what they observed on the defendant's body."
Handelman described what deputies found inside the residence.
"The victim was found at the scene unresponsive in a pool of his own blood," he said. "He was having difficulty breathing and was rushed to St. Patrick Hospital where he had to undergo surgery. If he is released, we ask for standard conditions including alcohol monitoring, as alcohol was a part of this incident. no weapons and no contact with the victim."
Judge Holloway set bail at $50,000 and ordered Hawkey to appear for his next hearing on December 6.