NASHUA, N.H. – A New Hampshire man who has admitted being part of the deadly knife and machete attack on a woman and her 11-year-old daughter told a jury Wednesday he might kill again if he’s ever released from prison.
Christopher Gribble, 21, said on the fifth day of his trial that he knows he’s going to prison whether he’s convicted or whether the jury sides with his defense — that he’s not guilty by reason of insanity. He admits he killed Kimberly Cates and maimed her daughter, Jaimie, at their Mont Vernon home in October 2009.
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Gribble said if the jury finds him insane, there is a possibility he could go free one day.
“If I did get out, I think it is possible I could kill again,” he said.
On cross-examination, Gribble acknowledged he planned the home invasion, supplied the machete and knife used to attack the victims and buried the weapons and some of the items stolen from the Cates’ home. Prosecutor Jeffery Strelzin asked him if he acted “purposely” when he attacked Kimberly Cates.
“It’s hard not be purposeful doing something like that, when you stick a knife in someone,” Gribble replied.
Gribble testified for nearly 11 hours over the course of three days. Strelzin began his cross-examination Wednesday, clearly with the goal of establishing that Gribble was in control before, during and after the crimes.
“You chose to do this,” Strelzin asked, to which Gribble replied, “Yes.”
Strelzin showed Gribble a receipt for the jewelry he stole from the Cates home and pawned the next day for $130.62.
“So that’s how much Kim’s life was worth to you?” Strelzin asked.
“That’s an interesting way to put it, but, yes,” Gribble said.
Strelzin noted that less than four hours before the home invasion, Gribble was sitting in a car with his ex-girlfriend, Ashley Martin, who had angered and devastated him a week earlier when she broke up with him. Gribble had the weapons they would use on the Cateses in the back of his car. Strelzin asked him why he didn’t kill Martin.
“I never considered killing Ashley,” Gribble said.
When asked if he could pick and choose who he killed and could control himself, Gribble replied, “Yes.”
Quinn Glover, an Amherst man who participated in the home invasion and pleaded guilty to burglary, robbery and conspiracy, testified Wednesday that Gribble was “excited, happy, invigorated” after hacking at the two victims and stabbing Kimberly Cates.
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