Witness describes fatal stabbing

Kim Smith

Friday, Aug. 2, 2002 | 9:02 a.m.

Daniel Jones lied to his brother. He told him he wasn't going to stab him, a witness testified. Seconds later, Steven Jones was dead.

Clark County prosecutors tied up their murder case against Daniel Jones Thursday with the testimony of Katie Lamb. Lamb was 16 years old when, she says, she watched Daniel stab 20-year-old Steven in the heart with a 5-inch long steak knife.

Defense witnesses were expected to begin taking the stand this morning. Attorneys Frank Kocka and Jennifer Bolton have hinted they will try to show the stabbing was a tragic accident.

A soft-spoken Lamb, now 18, told jurors that she had routinely seen the brothers get into squabbles in the two years she had dated Steven, but had never seen them get into a physical argument before.

On April 29, 2001, Lamb said the two brothers began arguing because Steven initially didn't want to take Daniel to cash his paycheck.

"(Daniel) was upset. He needed to get his check cashed and I guess our plans intervened," Lamb said. "He said Steven didn't look out for him and he put everybody else first and that's not the way brothers should be."

Although Steven quickly changed his mind and offered to take Daniel to cash the check, Daniel refused, Lamb said.

The two continued to argue and it got to the point Lamb decided to call the police. She walked into the bedroom, but it got quiet and she changed her mind.

When she walked back down the hallway toward the dining area, Lamb said she heard the brothers still arguing.

"Steven said 'What are you going to do with that knife? Are you going to kill me or are you going to stab me?' And Dan said 'No,' " Lamb said. "Then, in a fast motion he stabbed Steven in the chest and pulled it out real quick."

Daniel said "Yeah, now what?" Lamb said, and Steven walked outside their condominium and died.

Under cross-examination, Lamb acknowledged drawing a diagram showing that her view of the brothers was obstructed at the time of the stabbing. She insisted she told the detectives she had drawn certain wall lengths too long.

Lamb said her view was not obstructed.

If convicted of first-degree murder, Daniel Jones, 23, could receive a life sentence with or without the possibility of parole.