On Tuesday, James Huffman IV finally got to give his side of the story of New Year’s Eve and New Years Day nearly four years ago.

After being called to the witness stand on Tuesday by his defense attorney, Robert Wright, Huffman said he did not recall many of the events that led to the stabbing death of 24-year-old Michael Hogg on New Year’s Day 2014. He did say, however, that Hogg’s group intimidated and assaulted him during a confrontation about an allegedly stolen bottle of fireball whiskey.

During cross examination by the prosecution, Huffman said he attempted to run away from Hogg’s party, but was chased down and caught. He testified that he tried to escape them four times, although none of the surveillance video shown during the trial corroborated that claim.

Huffman also answered questions about Patrick Smith, who, along with Huffman, is charged with Hogg’s murder. Huffman said Smith didn’t seem to care that Hogg’s party was allegedly “after” him, and didn’t offer to help his friend. He later said he stabbed Hogg only three times in self-defense, and that he doesn’t know how Hogg was stabbed five more times. He added that he saw Smith with the knife in his hand.

Huffman told the court he’d never before used a knife as a weapon. But just as Commonwealth’s Attorney Edison Banks was about to question Huffman about a previous criminal charge, as evident by criminal court documents he held in his hands, Wright asked for a conference with Special Letcher Circuit Judge Kent Hendrickson, who called a short break, and then recessed the proceedings until Wednesday.

Hendrickson told the jury he anticipates witness testimony to conclude Wednesday.

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