As Karin Redfern‘s murder trial resumed on Feb. 26, the prosecution continued to push back against claims that the defendant stabbed ex-boyfriend Demetri Briscoe in defense of her fiancé last summer.
Redfern, 26, is charged with first-degree murder and two weapon offenses for the stabbing, which reportedly occurred outside her home on the 3000 block of Westfield Avenue. Law enforcement responded to the scene around 2 a.m. on June 1, 2025, after the mother of Redfern’s fiancé was awakened by a “big boom” and muffled arguing.
Redfern maintained at trial that she stabbed Briscoe, 26, after he attacked and knocked her fiancé to the ground. Multiple sources testified that the physical altercation stemmed from an argument between Redfern and her ex-girlfriend, who were also at the scene.
Redfern, her ex-girlfriend and Briscoe had reportedly been involved in a three-way polyamorous relationship that Redfern left on bad terms.
Investigators found blood pooling in multiple areas Redfern’s home, including “the porch, right railing, downstairs and left railing.” They later recovered the supected murder weapon, a kitchen knife, inside Redfern’s car. Forensic analysts found that the knife produced a 174 sextillion likelihood match with Redfern’s DNA—a figure that experts called “highly likely.”
On the stand, the mother of Redfern’s fiancé called the defendant “selfless” and recalled being “scared” after the noise awoke her. Her grandson, the 5-year-old child of Redfern and her fiancé, had been inside the home with her at the time.
“Karin came into the house with blood on her, no shirt on, black eye, and bruises on [her] face, mumbling and talking under her breath,” she told the court. In her fear, she called Redfern’s fiancé, telling him “someone was trying to break into the house.”
Redfern’s fiancé, who admitted to being “a little intoxicated” at the time of the incident, said he rushed home after his mother’s phone call. He claimed that upon arrival, Briscoe assaulted him with a pocket knife, knocking him unconscious. During the state’s cross-examination, he admitted he neglected to mention the pocket knife to investigators, and that he was just mentioning it for the first time on the stand.
Redfern was the last to testify on Feb. 26, and took the stand in her own defense. Though she expressed regret for Briscoe’s death, she maintained that she only stabbed him after seeing her fiancé on the ground and believing him to be dead.
When asked if she wanted the victim to die, she said, “No, just to leave.”
However, the prosecution pointed to the Ring camera footage to challenge her self-defense claim, arguing that “the victim was standing next to, not assaulting or taunting” her fiancé.
“You stabbed him in the video,” said the prosecution. “No one was attacking him at the time.”
Redfern agreed, but also admitted to being “angry during that time.” Jurors were also shown footage of the defendant allegedly, repeatedly stabbing her ex-girlfriend’s car tires with the murder weapon after stabbing Briscoe.
Midway through trial, courtroom staff called a temporary recess after graphic Ring camera footage of the stabbing prompted an emotional outburst from Briscoe’s family, one of whom attempted to approach Redfern.
Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Althea M. Handy is presiding over the trial, and jurors can expect to hear closing arguments on Feb. 27.
