Crown Witness Describes Gripping Moment of Terror

In a profoundly moving session, Brittany Cochrane, the first Crown witness in the highly publicized Robert Belbin murder trial, recounted the shocking events that led to the tragic death of 22-year-old Seamus Secord.

On the evening of February 7, 2023, around 5:00 p.m., Cochrane was returning home from work when she stumbled upon a horrific scene at the intersection of Mayor Avenue and Newtown Road. She saw two young men engaged in a savage attack—one violently striking the other.

Desperate Attempts to Save a Life

Cochrane described how the assailant, face obscured, fled the scene after delivering a flurry of punches or stabs. In that ominous twilight, she noticed blood staining the snow as Secord tried to make his way down the street, clutching his stomach.

"He said he was stabbed, and as I started to call 911, he begged me not to," Cochrane recalled, tears welling in her eyes as she followed him to his nearby home. His condition deteriorated rapidly—he was shivering, his vision blurry.

A Heartbreaking Scene in the Garage

Once inside the garage, Secord collapsed. Cochrane, drenched in his blood, scrambled to offer assistance alongside another man who appeared to know the stricken youth.

"I urged him to apply pressure to the wounds, but he was in shock, pacing, and visibly distressed," she recounted, illustrating the chaos and fear that filled the room.

As Secord gasped for breath, he uttered a desperate plea: "Please tell my mom I love her." Those haunting words shattered the courtroom silence, prompting an emotional reaction from his mother.

Facing Justice for a Tragic Crime

Robert Belbin stands accused of second-degree murder and breach of probation, with this gripping trial set to unfold over six weeks in the Supreme Court. The raw emotions displayed in court reveal the deep scars left by violence—both on the victims and their loved ones.