ORLANDO, Fla. — It was an emotional day inside an Orange County courtroom as opening statements began in the trial for the man accused of stabbing his former Universal Studios co-worker.
The victim and several witnesses testified as the suspect looked on.
Co-workers tearfully described watching as Glenn Ferguson run through the park in fear for his life without security stepping in.
He was stabbed in the head in front of a crowd on New Year’s Day 2016.
“Glenn started screaming,” said witness Daphne Gonynor.
“And what was Glenn screaming?” asked the prosecutor.
“He’s killing me,” Gonynor said.
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She tearfully told jurors what she saw during her shift at Universal Studios.
It's a day that forever changed Ferguson’s life, and one he thought would be his last.
“I’m going to die. Everyone is going to watch,” said Ferguson on the stand.
Prosecutor allowing video to play in real time, asking victim to describe several minute 'standoff' between Torres & Ferguson #WFTV
— Janine Reyes (@JReyesinTexas) August 23, 2017
Prosecutors allege Torres was upset after being fired the day before and decided to stab one of the “best caricature drawers” at the park.
They said he set his sights on Ferguson after he came in to work the shift left vacant when their boss fired Torres.
“I had the day off and was going to go to a friend’s house to watch football and eat,” Ferguson said.
Video shows Ferguson & Torres facing each other w/security guard in between the. Victim says he asked for help, but didn't get it #WFTV
— Janine Reyes (@JReyesinTexas) August 23, 2017
Instead, he came to work, and after a heated argument with his former co-worker, Torres is accused of chasing Ferguson through the park and eventually stabbing him in the head with this pair of scissors.
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Defense attorneys will be able to call any witnesses they may have Thursday, but they seemed to lay the groundwork for claims Torres suffered a personality change after being fired.
“The Mr. Torres you've known before was someone you didn't recognize for him, right?” asked the defense attorney.
“I knew it was him,” Torres said.
“Right. My question is more about his personality,” said the attorney.
The two caricature drawers worked with each other for years, and had even spent time together outside of work.
Torres faces up to life in prison if he's convicted in the case.
Watch: Surveillance video of the attack
Cox Media Group
