Barbara J. Redeye is pictured on Tuesday with Nathaniel Barone, county public defender, on the left, and with members of the defense team. Redeye is accused of murdering her half-brother, 36-year-old Dale A. Redeye, on Aug. 14. P-J photo by A.J. Rao

MAYVILLE — A rage-filled act of violence or a justified case of self-defense?

The question was the heart of opening statements Tuesday in the trial of Barbara J. Redeye, the 24-year-old Jamestown woman accused of murdering her half-brother — 36-year-old Dale A. Redeye — on Aug. 14.

Redeye is charged with second-degree murder and faces a potential 15 to 25 years in prison.

Patrick Swanson, Chautauqua County district attorney, implored the jury to use their common sense in his opening, insisting the defendant’s shifting version of events, her minimal injuries and the grisly nature of the crime scene reflect someone who acted out of rage and with intention.

“What this trial is going to be about is anger turning to violence, resulting in death,” Swanson said. “This trial will not be about how Dale Redeye died, where he died, when he died or who killed him. The entirety of this trial is going to surround the circumstances of his death.”

Nathaniel Barone, county public defender and Redeye’s counsel, countered by shifting the focus to Dale Redeye, describing the deceased as a “vicious, aggressive abuser” who had a history of drugs, alcohol and even state prison time. Barone said his client acted “instinctively” when Dale Redeye rushed at her with a kitchen knife.

“We ended up in this courtroom today because Barbara Redeye was put in a life and death situation,” Barone said. “Dale Redeye ripped away every dream, every desire and everything that Barbara Redeye wanted to do with her life because of the choice he made … because Dale Redeye decided that he wanted to kill Barbara Redeye.”

Swanson’s opening recounted the events of Aug. 14 to the jury, describing how Redeye, who shared a 501 Lakeview Ave. apartment with the victim, rushed to her neighbors’ downstairs apartment for help around 8:45 p.m.

Opening the door were then-couple Thomas Badgley and Whitney Blankenship, both of whom claimed Redeye was hysterical and covered in blood. They followed Redeye to her apartment and found Dale Redeye, unresponsive and lying facedown, with a knife protruding from his neck.

Swanson said the victim had five stab wounds, several abrasions and up to 20 cuts — some as long as five to six inches and up to 1/4 inches deep.

“(The deceased) suffered blunt force trauma … and was stabbed twice in the back, once in the back of the neck,” Swanson said. “He was also stabbed in the chest, six inches deep, directly through his heart.”

Badgley attempted CPR to no avail and police were contacted.

Swanson said Redeye told Badgley and Blankenship — and later Jamestown police officers — that a man dressed in black killed her half-brother while she was in the bathroom. Redeye, he continued, claimed she confronted the assailant and grabbed his knife before he fled through a window.

Redeye was taken to UPMC Chautauqua WCA for a hand injury and questioned by Captain Robert F. Samuelson, division commander of the Jamestown Police Department. Swanson said Redeye strangely told a doctor that no fight occurred in her apartment at all, but rather an “old family ghost.”

When questioned further by Samuelson at the JPD, Redeye stuck with her story about the unknown assailant for up to 40 minutes until finally changing her story, Swanson said.

“(Redeye) claims that Dale molested her brother (Joshua) years ago and that Dale said her mom made him do it,” Swanson said. “Barbara and Dale have the same father, but different mothers.”

Redeye, furious over Dale Redeye’s accusation toward her mother, called him “evil,” and claimed that Dale Redeye intended to attack her as a result. During the confrontation, Redeye said she grabbed the knife and stabbed him in the chest and again in the neck because she was “so angry at him for starting a fight over something so stupid,” according to Swanson. She also claimed she injured her hand in the process.

Swanson said the crime scene showed a “massive amount of blood loss,” with blood in the kitchen, living room, sleeping area, on the walls and the ceiling. He told the jury to pay attention to versions of the story that come from the crime scene, the medical examiner, police body camera footage and the police questioning of Redeye.

Barone pushed back, insisting Redeye was left with no choice by Dale Redeye, a man whose pattern of abusing drugs and alcohol made him aggressive and violent.

“Dale Redeye physically abused Barbara on a number of occasions — he’s choked her, punched her, slapped her, he’s thrown her around and verbally abused her,” Barone said. “He’s done this to a number of people. He beat up his boyfriends, attacked police officers and even threatened to kill Barbara.”

Barone said Redeye loved Dale and had no intention of killing him. When discussions about going into business together fell through, Dale Redeye blamed Redeye’s mother for interfering, according to the defense.

“When Barbara Redeye went into her bedroom, she could hear the drawer being pulled out with knives and utensils,” Barone said. “When she came back out … standing less than 20 feet away from her is an enraged abuser with a knife in his hand threatening to kill her. Dale Redeye gave Barbara Redeye no choice … she did what we’re programmed as human beings to do. She chose not to be a victim that evening.”

Barone further stated that police rushed to judgement when arresting Redeye, insisting they made their decision before any autopsy results were completed. He said the prosecution will focus only on the aftermath of the incident instead of the incident itself.

Three witnesses were called to testify Tuesday by the prosecution: Badgley, Blankenship and Cassandra Brigham, a Chautauqua County coroner who responded to the crime scene.

Both Badgley and Blankenship claimed they heard a few “thumps” from the upstairs apartment, but were not aware of any argument taking place. They stated Redeye was visibly overwhelmed and upset when she came down to their apartment. Blankenship’s 9-1-1 call was played for the court.

Badgley, a friend of Dale Redeye, said he pulled the knife out of the victim’s neck and attempted CPR. Barone highlighted that Badgley and Dale Redeye used to exchange drugs.

Brigham said she pronounced Dale Redeye dead at 2:23 a.m. on Aug. 15 after observing several stab wounds to the torso. Barone pointed out that Brigham only visibly inspected the body and had no knowledge of the cause of death or the nature of the incident that led to it.

The trial is scheduled to resume today at 9:30 a.m. in Chautauqua County Court.