The 21-year-old man accused of killing a clerk at a St. Michel supermarket last year testified the victim wanted to kill him and he had to protect himself.
Randy Tshilumba is testifying in his own defence at his first degree murder trial.
He is accused of killing Clémence Beaulieu-Patry, 20, while she was working at the Maxi supermarket in April 2016.
In his opening statement, Tshilumba's lawyer told the jury two psychiatrists will testify that Tshilumba was suffering from mental health problems and was convinced the victim and her friends wanted to kill him.
Tshilumba testified it all started in 2014 when he saw on a Spotted page on Facebook, posts from Beaulieu-Patry and her friends that targeted him and indirectly threatened him.
Tshilumba testified those messages stressed him out, made him anxious and caused his schoolwork to suffer.
Tshilumba testified Beaulieu-Patry and her friends even hid by cars near his house and spied on him, and that he was scared to leave his home.
Tshilumba testified he bought a hunting knife for protection.
Tshilumba testified he went to the Maxi to convince Beaulieu-Patry not to kill him.
He testified it looked like she was pulling a gun out of her pocket and he thought she was going to kill him and clients so he wanted to protect himself and those clients.
Tshilumba testified he stabbed Beaulieu-Patry five or six times and then fled to a nearby Tim Hortons to hide from her and her friends, convinced they were going to come after him.
Tshilumba testified in a clear but unemotional voice, repeating over and over that he thought the victim and her friends were going to kill him and that he was anxious and stressed.
A friend of Tshilumba's and his family members will also testify.
The trial is scheduled to last another three weeks.