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LEWISTON, Idaho (AP) — A Lewiston man accused of knifing his drinking partner to death will be arraigned Wednesday on one count of first-degree murder.
Detectives described a grisly scene at a preliminary hearing for Patrick James Nuxoll, the Lewiston Tribune reported (http://bit.ly/1SQiGuO ).
Nuxoll, 53, is charged in the death of 63-year-old David W. Cramer.
Lewiston Police Department Detective Brian Erickson testified that Nuxoll met police at his house in May covered in blood. Cramer's body was slumped in a living room chair, covered in lacerations, a knife by his feet. Blood covered the walls and ceiling.
"It was everywhere, almost, around where he was positioned in that chair," Erickson said.
According to a medical examiner, Cramer had 128 cut injuries on his head, face, neck, arms and hands. Some were so deep the cuts hit bone and some left metal fragments embedded in Cramer's skull, nose and wrist.
Detective Cody Bloomsburg says the injuries were similar to someone trying to defend himself.
Nuxoll told police he and Cramer had drunk vodka, and when he woke up his friend was dead. Nuxoll told detectives at the time that he attempted to give CPR to Cramer by hitting the victim three times in chest with the side of his fist. But he also allegedly said, "I hope I didn't kill Dave, but if I did, I'm sorry."
Police Detective Jason Leavitt testified that while Nuxoll was changing, so his bloodstained clothes could be taken into evidence, he added that "I hope you don't find anything in here that's going to put me away for the rest of my life."
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Information from: Lewiston Tribune, http://www.lmtribune.com
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