When Dr. Matthew Massie rushed outside into the darkness of a Davis park, he found himself face-to-face with tragedy—and, as he’d later realize, with a decision that would haunt him. The witness in the retrial of Carlos Dominguez testified Tuesday about that pivotal moment when he discovered Karim Abou Najm’s body covered in blood and watched the suspect flee on a bicycle. But what made Massie’s courtroom appearance striking wasn’t just the facts of that night—it was his raw reckoning with the emotional weight of what he didn’t do.
Dominguez stands accused of killing two men and seriously injuring a woman in a series of stabbings across Davis. His first trial ended in acquittal on the most serious charge: first-degree murder. Yet jurors deadlocked on other counts, prompting a mistrial. Now, in his second trial, prosecutors face a steeper climb. Dominguez can no longer be tried for first-degree murder—a consequence of the acquittal rule that prevents double jeopardy. The most severe charge available to them now is second-degree murder, fundamentally altering the legal stakes of this case.
Massie’s testimony revealed something deeper than case facts. During his initial testimony last year, his heart rate climbed to the 120s as he grappled with overwhelming guilt. He admitted to the court that he’d been“too self-focused,”wrestling with the knowledge that he’d failed to apprehend Dominguez in that dark park. His explanations about why he broke off the chase—fear, uncertainty, the adrenaline of chasing an unknown figure—laid bare the very human hesitation that can mean the difference between justice delayed and tragedy compounded. Massie struggled not just with the facts, but with the emotional aftermath of witnessing violence and the weight of what-ifs.
This retrial highlights a reality rarely discussed in open court: witnesses carry psychological scars alongside their testimony. Massie’s willingness to acknowledge his own trauma, his guilt, and his mental state during the previous trial speaks to the human cost of violent crime—not just for victims and their families, but for ordinary people thrust into extraordinary moments. His testimony Tuesday wasn’t just about what he saw. It was about what he carries.
The proceedings continue as prosecutors build their case under new legal constraints. With first-degree murder off the table, every piece of testimony, every detail, every moment of doubt takes on heightened significance. The jury will decide whether Carlos Dominguez is guilty of the lesser but still grave charge of second-degree murder—a verdict that will hinge on facts, evidence, and the credibility of witnesses like Dr. Massie, who are still learning to live with the role they played in that violent night.
About the Author
Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.
