Stabbing Suspect Used A Steak Knife Against Teammate, Witness Says

A classmate of a man accused of stabbing a former COD football player said a fight had been brewing between the two the day of the altercation.

Jamie Edward Smith, a 19-year-old transfer student from North Carolina A&T, faces attempted murder and other charges in the Sept. 1 stabbing of Clifford Jean-Baptiste at a Palm Desert apartment complex at 77777 Country Club Drive, near Washington Street.

Following nearly four hours of testimony, Riverside County Superior Court Judge Ronald L. Johnson found there was enough evidence to proceed to trial.

Mark McBride, one of Smith's Los Angeles-based attorneys, told Patch that the standard at a preliminary hearing is very low.

"We're looking forward to trial," McBride said.

During the hearing, Mike Mehling of Las Vegas, who is listed as a linebacker on the school’s roster, testified that Baptiste, who had recently quit the team, had accused Smith of stealing his Air Jordans and some T-shirts.

"It was a big controversy," Mehling said, adding that a fight was brewing during football practice.

Later in the day, between 20 to 25 members of the team had gathered at the apartment, ready to see a fight.

"No one was instigating. Everyone knew they was going to see a fight. They were instigating at practice," Mehling said.

Mehling said he saw Smith walk up to Baptiste with his right arm behind his back and a cigar in his mouth, and that the men exchanged words before Smith took the first swing.

"He (Smith) swung at Clifford with it (the knife)," Mehling said, adding that he yelled out that Smith had the weapon.

Mehling said that Clifford tried to run, but slipped and fell a short distance away.

"Jamie got on top of him and stabbed him," he said, adding that two teammates pulled Smith off and grabbed the knife away, which was described as a kitchen steak knife.

"Everyone was in shock really because it happened so fast," Mehling said, adding that he wanted to fight Smith, who took off running a few minutes after the stabbing.

Another teammate, Tuvalu Melei, a COD offensive lineman from Twentynine Palms, took the stand and said that he had just got home from practice when the fight began.

Melei said that the victim, who is from Florida, had on Smith's chain and hat.

"Jamie had told people at pracitce they were going to fight tonight," Melei testified during cross examination.

He said that both men exchanged punches before Smith took out the knife.

Smith is being held in lieu of $1 million at the Indio Jail.