A Eureka fisherman accused of shooting his best friend in 2017 testified in court Friday that he doesn’t remember speaking with police officers or the incident in question.
“I don’t remember,” was repeated several times by David Kobak, 78, who is accused of murdering Frederick Loftus, his best friend of 30 years, when questioned by Deputy District Attorney Whitney Timm on Friday. Kobak said he didn’t remember any part of his interview with officers from the Eureka Police Department on Aug. 25, 2017, except getting handcuffed, walking to the patrol car and being at the hospital to get his blood drawn.
“I have no memory of the event,” he said. ” … I don’t remember shooting Fred Loftus.”
Kobak testified he did remember calling 911 and saying he shot his friend.
Kobak said he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s by a doctor at the jail shortly after he was booked into custody.
Loftus’ daughter, Crystal LoManto, expressed doubt. She wrote in an email to the Times-Standard that Kobak “has selective memory that suits his side of the defense.”
“He can remember the day, coming home, cooking, and everything after but not how it transpired,” LoManto wrote. “It is clear he was not in fear for his life as he was free to walk past the front door twice to retrieve the gun and return to the kitchen.”
Kobak testified that after going to Ernie’s Bar with Loftus, he came home and made himself dinner. The dinner was still on the stove, which had been turned off, by the time police had arrived, but Kobak said he didn’t know who turned the stove off.
In terms of the fight leading up to Loftus’ death, Kobak said he and Loftus were having a good time before an argument started up, after which he said Loftus lost his temper and hit him a couple of times.
“He swung and hit me twice before I moved,” Kobak said.
Kobak testified he went towards his recliner, after which Loftus swung at him and missed.
Timm asked whether Kobak had tried to leave, call 911, ask Loftus to leave or go to his room, to which Kobak responded no.
“I don’t remember getting the gun,” Kobak said.
Loftus was a big guy and younger than him, so Kobak said he didn’t stand a chance in a fight with him.
“I was scared of Fred when he was like that,” he said.
Loftus and Kobak had been friends for 30 years and worked together as fishermen. In that time, Kobak testified, he and Loftus had drank a lot and Loftus had never struck him, even after occasions where Kobak had fired Loftus.
“If he was such a awful and violent person, why would Dave remained friends with him for so long and invite him to stay at his home?” LoManto wrote. “Why would Dave choose to go drinking with him if he was worried about his temper? My father was the one who (made) the mistake of trusting in someone he thought was his friend and he paid for that mistake with his life.”
Loftus had been staying with Kobak for about six weeks before his death.
Kobak is being held at the Humboldt County jail on $2 million.
Sonia Waraich can be reached at 707-441-0506.
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Fisherman accused of murder testifies he doesn’t remember shooting his friend - Eureka Times-Standard
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